The film Joy, set to premiere at the British Film Festival on October 15, narrates the inspiring journey of a visionary Cambridge scientist, an ambitious gynecologist, and a dedicated nurse who achieved one of the most significant medical breakthroughs in history: in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Starring Bill Nighy as Patrick Steptoe, James Norton as Robert Edwards, and Thomasin McKenzie as Jean Purdy, the film explores the trio’s relentless pursuit of funding for a private clinic near Cambridge after the NHS declined to support their IVF research. Their determination led them to find a secret benefactor, and Jean Purdy eventually discovered a Jacobean manor house for sale, which became the foundation for their pioneering work.
Professor Robert Edwards, who taught at Churchill College, faced skepticism in the 1960s, a time when infertility was not widely acknowledged as a medical issue. He recalled in 2007, “I had to convince a lot of people, and many wouldn’t be convinced. It was a damn big fight. But when I was fighting, I wasn’t fighting for myself; I was fighting for my patients. The day we saw the first human egg mature in vitro, we threw our hats in the air.”
Edwards teamed up with Patrick Steptoe, a consultant gynecologist from Oldham and a laparoscopic expert, who was increasingly frustrated by the high number of women suffering from infertility due to blocked fallopian tubes. Together, they enlisted the help of Jean Purdy, who started as a laboratory technician and eventually became recognized as the world’s first clinical embryologist. Her obituary in The Times noted that she was the first to identify and describe the formation of the early human blastocyst, a crucial step for embryo stem cell technology.
Joy concludes with the birth of Louise Brown, the first “test-tube” baby, whose parents, Lesley and John Brown, traveled from Bristol to Bourn Hall for further IVF treatment, later welcoming a second daughter, Natalie.
Adam Burnley, the regional lead embryologist at Bourn Hall, shared his experience of joining the clinic nearly 40 years ago when both Patrick Steptoe and Bob Edwards were still active. “In those early days, embryology was still evolving. I witnessed the development of techniques such as the manipulation of sperm and eggs using a micropipette under a microscope, which is now a core skill for embryologists,” Burnley said. He emphasized that the founders’ contributions paved the way for millions of successful births worldwide, with their knowledge generously shared with medical professionals globally.
Joy will be available for streaming on Netflix starting November 22. The Bourn Hall Clinic, established in 1980 by Steptoe, Edwards, and Purdy following their landmark success with Louise Brown, continues to lead in the field of assisted conception. The clinic now supports both NHS and self-funding patients and operates full-service locations in Cambridge, Norwich, and Wickford, along with satellite clinics in Colchester and King’s Lynn, and a Fertility Health Suite in Stamford. Additionally, Bourn Hall has partnered with the Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to further enhance its services.
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