A Dad Is Born shows terrifying journeys for fathers into parenthood

Pregnancy and childbirth is a hot TV topic at the moment with shows like One Born Every Minute and Call The Midwife proving hugely popular viewing.

It seems we love to see others making the terrifying, exciting but ultimately joyous (and exhausting) journey into parenthood. But it always focuses on the main protagonist, the mother, while the dads, particularly in One Born Every Minute, seem to exist on screen purely for comic relief.

Last night's instalment attempted to redress the balance a little and charted the emotions of three very different men in the weeks leading up to and immediately after becoming fathers.

It made the point that during these weeks, while theirs is very much a supporting role, involving a lot of waiting in the wings, they should also share their moment in the spotlight.

We first meet HR worker Jamie who is quite clearly petrified. He fills his days reading about cot death rates, childhood illnesses and the dangers of sleeping in the same bed as your baby, and is seemingly obsessed by discovering what you should do if your newborn chokes on some mucus.

He freely admits, but is not bothered, that everyone at work thinks he's a 'softy' and he rejects attempts by his own father to convince him that it's all about common sense.

Instead he carries on reading until eventually all the 'mildly terrifying' statistics he has absorbed return to haunt him in the wee small hours, giving him an early taste of the sleepless nights that are to come.

Next we meet Viktor, a cab driver and reformed womaniser, who once believed that he could have any woman he wanted.

Now he has found the love of his life and, as he approaches parenthood, reflects on his own upbringing with a violent alcoholic father, desperate to do a better job himself. His naturally jovial nature hides a deep resentment about his father and just hopes he can be there when needed which his own father wan't.

Then there is multi-millionaire motivational speaker Greg who is expecting a baby with his new girlfriend after leaving his wife, with whom he already has a three-year-old son.

He is clearly over the moon about getting a second chance to make a new attempt at building a family life and his upbeat stage persona can't hide the fact that he is desperate not to fail a second time.

Throughout the programme it soon becomes clear that fatherhood is a great leveller and all three, regardless of wealth or status, simply want to be the best father they can.

During the birth, they all experience the same immense pride, happiness and terror in one dose, and emerge somehow softer and more appreciative of the value of spending time with loved ones instead of being out working long hours making money.

In Greg's case, he reveals how, had he gone to work that week, he would have earned £3.5 million by talking alongside Donald Trump in Australia.

He is, however, at pains to look at the sum it in terms of a trust fund and a solid education until the age of 18 for his son, lest he should appear insensitive or greedy.

They all try to do what they can to help their partners after the birth, Viktor ironing his first ever shirt, Jamie taking over the housework and Greg employing a maternity nurse.

Viktor and Jamie both find themselves in the unknown territory of the baby and 'feminine care' aisles of their local supermarkets but manage to emerge unscathed, if a little bewildered.

As the programme progresses, all three start to look slightly more dishevelled and tired, as they all have the overwhelming feeling that they have to be the ones to hold everything together in the days immediately after the births.

All three are equally besotted with their babies – Greg enjoying a cuddle on the sofa, Viktor enthusiastically changing a nappy and Jamie shedding a tear on his return to the office. Clearly, his fear of not being able to bond with his child has failed to materialise and he has finally realised that the answers he sought were not in the pages of a book after all.

Slowly they all return to work and their pre-baby routines, confident they have played their part to their best ability and now happy to spend some time in the wings again.

Sally-Anne Youll

Watch A Dad is Born on BBC iPlayer