New film ‘Joy’ tells real life story of IVF pioneers who established Bourn Hall

The story of how a maverick scientist, an ambitious gynaecologist and a modest nurse made one of the greatest breakthroughs in the history of medicine is to be told in ‘Joy’, a new Netflix film to be premiered at the British Film Festival (15th October 2024). The IVF pioneers went on to establish Bourn Hall as the world’s first IVF clinic and a Norfolk couple were treated there by Patrick Steptoe.

‘Joy’ features Bill Nighy as Patrick Steptoe, James Norton as Robert Edwards and Thomasin McKenzie as Jean Purdy – the pioneers of IVF. The film stops at the birth of Louise Brown, the first ‘test-tube’ baby, but to millions of families worldwide the best was yet to come.

Turning science into IVF treatment

When the NHS refused to support the development of IVF as a treatment, the three pioneers made urgent attempts to gain funding for a private clinic where they could continue their work. A secret benefactor came forward and Jean eventually found a Jacobean manor house for sale near Cambridge – which became the world’s first IVF clinic, Bourn Hall, in 1980.

More than 30 years ago Lesley and Brian Smith from Norfolk were successfully treated by Patrick Steptoe at Bourn Hall, and became parents to twin girls Katie and Amy, who now has two Bourn Hall babies of her own.

Now in her 70s, Lesley Smith remembers: “Things were so different years ago. I didn’t tell many people that Amy and her twin sister Katie were IVF babies. In those days people just didn’t understand and I didn’t want them growing up with a ‘stigma’.

“When I couldn’t get pregnant I felt like I wasn’t a proper woman; all my friends had got pregnant easily, I thought it was just me that struggled. These days with social media I would have realised that I wasn’t the only one, but it wasn’t until I went to Bourn Hall and met all the other girls having treatment that I realised it wasn’t just me.

Remembering Patrick Steptoe

Patrick Steptoe is played by Bill Nighy in the film, and Lesley remembers him with great fondness.

“Patrick Steptoe was a lovely man,” she says. “He was how you would imagine a lovely grandfather would be. He was very visible at Bourn Hall and would chat to everyone.

“I was really upset when he died, he meant a lot to me. We went to the churchyard in Bourn to visit his grave to pay our respects.”

“I still can’t believe my luck sometimes,” smiles Lesley. “If I hadn’t had my Bourn Hall twins I wouldn’t now have four gorgeous grandchildren.”

(Top image shows Lesley Smith with Patrick Steptoe and her twins [copyright Lesley Smith])

Continuing the legacy

Cambridge Regional Lead Embryologist Adam Burnley joined Bourn Hall nearly 40 years ago.

He says: “When I started at Bourn Hall in 1986 Patrick Steptoe and Bob Edwards were still working at the clinic and Louise was a toddler.

“Our founders’ efforts paved the way for millions of ‘miracle births’ worldwide as their discoveries were shared generously with medical practitioners and scientists globally.

“It is an honour for all of us at Bourn Hall to continue their work today.”

Read more about Lesley’s story and her daughter Amy’s story.

Joy will be available on Netflix from 22 November.