Channel Nine’s new drama series Love Child, starring Jessica Marais, Jonathan LaPaglia and Mandy McElhinney; produced in Sydney. It’s 1969 in Kings Cross and Joan Miller (Jessica Marais), a smart and sophisticated midwife, returns home from London to take a job at the Kings Cross Hospital and find a new life for herself, at a time when Australia is coming of age and the new generation believes anything is possible. Jonathan LaPaglia plays the charismatic Dr Patrick McNaughton, head of obstetrics at Kings Cross Hospital, and Mandy McElhinney plays Frances Bolton, the tough matron who also controls the running of Stanton House, a home for unwed pregnant young women. Their lives intersect between Kings Cross Hospital, Stanton House and the wild streets of Darlinghurst beyond the hospital walls. The cast also includes Ryan Corr, Ella Scott Lynch, Sophie Hensser, Miranda Tapsell, Gracie Gilbert and Harriet Dyer. In a joint statement, Andy Ryan and Jo Rooney, joint Heads of Drama at the Nine Network, said: “A powerful and uplifting series, Love Child tells the stories of young women and men fighting an unjust system in a world on the brink of change. “We are thrilled to join forces again with Playmaker Media to bring Love Child to the Australian audience and showcase a superb cast.” David Maher and David Taylor, from Playmaker, describe Love Child as a series with a stellar cast, a gripping story, and all the exuberant music, fashion and attitude of the late 1960s.
Joan risks everything to be reunited with her missing child. Matron makes a shock announcement when she is accused of unethical behavior. Debbie takes extreme action to locate Ed and reunite him with Elena.
Joan finds proof her baby was swapped at birth, while Matron embarks on a cover-up. Elena's wedding plans are ruined by Debbie's jealousy.
As Joan struggles to admit her infertility to Jim, Annie faces the death of her father, but not before he encourages her to go to Vietnam as an entertainer.
Patricia refuses to sign adoption papers for her unborn baby, with tragic results. Joan gets closer to finding the family of Gail's orphaned baby. Matron's world is rocked when her biological son is released from prison. Martha is swept off her feet by an admirer.
Annie risks losing her unborn child when she is injured at an anti-war protest. Joan's career as a doctor hangs in the balance following her role in Eva's pregnancy. Shirley makes a life-changing decision to help Maggie keep her baby.
Joan attempts to bury her grief by throwing herself back into work, but is it too soon? Meanwhile, Elena is torn between love and duty when the father of her child proposes marriage. Martha's first dinner party could end her marriage.
In the season final, Joan makes a terrible choice to save her husband. Matron fights a desperate battle to keep Stanton House open. McNaughton makes a fateful decision that has a drastic impact on Joan and Jim's future.
Viv and Martha fight for their rights at the International Women's Day march. When Joan's baby falls ill, Matron is wracked with guilt over the possible baby swap. Debbie defies Matron by visiting her older, married lover.
Dr McNaughton is prepared to sacrifice his career to help Joan and Jim escape criminal charges. But is he too late? A drunken bucks night ruins Patty's plans for Martha and Bowditch's wedding. Viv faces a tough choice when Pete proposes to her.
Whilst being blackmailed by McNaughton's estranged wife, Joan rescues Maggie and other abused girls from Tarramar by agreeing to help Matron reopen her 'baby factory', Stanton House.
Joan makes a fateful decision about her future with Lawrence. Debbie's world is rocked when she discovers Matron has made secret deal to adopt out her baby. Viv gives Matron a dose of her own medicine.
It’s 1970 and the times they are a-changing. Joan is devastated to discover an infection has left her almost certainly infertile while delinquent teen Maggie is determined to discover the identity of her birth mother.
As wedding bells chime, new love blossoms as old loves are lost forever, and amidst betrayal and secrecy, Joan must face the hardest decision of her life.
Martha's reunion with her birth mother turns into a nightmare. Joan and Jim's relationship is blown apart by a secret from her past. Annie is distraught to learn she is pregnant again.
Rita refuses medical assistance that could save her and her baby's life. Simon confesses his role in the hit and run accident to Martha. Elena is shocked to discover her lover Ed is in critical condition in the hospital.
Joan's world is upended when her ex-fiance arrives from London. Bowditch and Martha are blackmailed over the hit-and-run accident. Rita has second thoughts about returning to the convent following the birth of her baby.
Joan must compete for a permanent doctors position against her friend Bowditch as well as a sexist rival with wandering hands. Meanwhile, the Stanton House girls steal Martha's car in an attempt to learn more about Elena's betrothed.
Shirley fights to keep her job as Maggie learns the truth of their relationship, Joan uncovers McNaughton's part in Greg Mathieson's death, and Viv loses her twins all over again.
In Vietnam, Viv finds herself holding her newly orphaned baby nephew. Joan confirms Eva is pregnant as Patty and Jim give in to their lust.
When Joan goes into early labour, the unorthodox new head of obstetrics is the only one who can help her. Matron has her hands full with three new pregnant girls in Stanton House.
Joan finds herself in the middle of a violent custody battle over Gail's baby. Patricia faces a crisis when she travels to Melbourne to marry her Prince Charming. Martha is obsessed with seeing Queen Elizabeth during the 1970 royal tour.
Matron buries her doubts about the baby swap, while Joan struggles with life as a single mother. Martha vows to uncover the truth about Patty's mysterious death. Elena fears for her life when her brother discovers the truth about her pregnancy.
Joan is obsessed with finding the father of Gail's baby. Viv finds an unlikely ally in Matron as she suffers through a difficult labour. Shirley receives a surprise telegram from Vietnam.
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