Call the Midwife tackles Enoch Powell’s chilling Rivers of Blood speech
The 45-minute speech was described as "inflammatory" and "liable to damage race relations".
From the moment it arrived on our screens, Heidi Thomas has used Call the Midwife as a vehicle to both entertain and highlight challenging real-world issues, and tonight's episode was no exception.
Poplar becomes a community divided following Enoch Powell's 1968 Rivers of Blood speech, in which he delivered a scathing attack on UK immigration.
The Conservative MP was addressing party members in Birmingham ahead of the second reading of the Race Relations Bill, legislation designed to prohibit racial discrimination in employment, commerce, housing and public services. But Powell believed that it would be harmful to "the indigenous population".
Tory leader Edward Heath described the 45-minute speech as "inflammatory" and "liable to damage race relations", with Powell removed from his role as defence spokesperson the following day.
Both Lucille and Cyril are aggrieved and troubled by what has unfolded. "Incitement to racial hatred in this country is a crime," says Cyril.
"Who's going to arrest a politician?" responds Lucille. "It won't stop people from acting on his words."
And she's not wrong. There was some support for Powell, with approximately 1,000 London dock workers protesting in support of him, which is also depicted in Call the Midwife.
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
One of the pregnant women Lucille is caring for also launches into a furious anti-immigrant tirade during her labour. Lucille is so distressed by the incident that she walks out.
"All is not well," she says to Sister Julienne.
Lucille was already pining for her family in Jamaica, but her sadness looks set to morph into something much more acute in the coming episodes.
Read more:
- Call the Midwife star addresses whether season 13 could be the last
- Call the Midwife voted best show of the past 25 years in huge poll
Call the Midwife airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight.
The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
Authors
Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.
