Abstract

In December 1973, the BBC aired Nemone Lethbridge’s auto-fictional play 'Baby Blues' as one of their influential ‘Play for Today’ (PfT) series (1970–1984). This article explores the impact of Lethbridge’s controversial television play, which drew attention to taboo topics, such as infertility, caesarean section childbirth, infanticide, suicide, and, separately, motherhood ageism and dismissive medical professionals. It will illustrate how Lethbridge’s play 'Baby Blues' was part of a broader change in discussing maternal mental illness and creating support for women experiencing postnatal depression and psychosis, instigated by the Women’s Liberation Movement (WLM). The article situates 'Baby Blues' within the wider history of the PfT series, with its focus on socio-political issues, and highlights the challenges Lethbridge faced in bringing the play to production. It analyses the mixed responses to the play, many of which were critical, and how this led to Lethbridge’s launching of a grass-roots self-help group, Depressives Anonymous (DA), in 1974, which was—and still is—a long-lasting legacy of 'Baby Blues'. The article builds on the history of maternal mental illness as explored in women’s narratives and its association with stigma, support and feminism, alongside the British Broadcasting Corporation’s television series PfT, in 1970s Britain.

The 'Last Taboo of Motherhood’ audio plays are now available online

The artistic collaboration explores how women, their families, ‘experts’, and the wider community tell stories about motherhood and mental distress. The three audio-pieces produced from this exciting collaboration between historians and artists have been informed by a variety of historical sources, including first hand testimonies - oral histories and written narratives - from women who have experienced postnatal mental illness.

Written by Bryony Kimmings, Courtney Conrad and Sara Shaarawi, these pieces probe vital questions about women’s experiences of mental illness and the pervasive culture of silence that has existed around maternal mental health. It provokes reflections into how history might prompt new insights into our responses to postnatal mental illness today.

There are several ways to listen to the audios:

The audio plays discuss distressing subjects, including postnatal mental illness, infanticide and death and we recommend that they are suitable for ages 16+.

• You can access them directly on our websiteLink opens in a new window
• You can access them on Fuel Digital Link opens in a new window(You can listen free of charge, but need to register on the Fuel Digital website and purchase the audios for ‘0’ charge.)
• You can listen on SpotifyLink opens in a new window
• For more details of the audio tour and audience feedback click hereLink opens in a new window