The Orphans of Halfpenny Street

Call the Midwife meets Dr Barnardos in this gritty drama that will appeal to fans of Nadine Dorries and Kitty Neale. When there is nowhere else to turn, St Saviours will give them hope Its 1947 and Londons East End is still a bombed-out landscape. Sister Beatrice, who runs the St Saviours Childrens Home, knows that life is still a precarious existence for many children and it seems that there is no end to the constant stream of waifs and strays who appear at their door looking for a safe haven. One such arrival is Mary Ellen whose mother is gravely ill. The one silver lining is her best friend, the tearaway Billy Baggins, also a resident of the home, but Billy seems intent on falling foul of Sister Beatrices strict regime. New arrival on the staff, Angela, admires Sister Beatrice, but can see that the children need love and kindness as well as a strong hand. When an unwelcome face from Billys past arrives on the scene, things are brought to a head. Can the two women work together to keep Billy on the straight and narrow or is it too late?