The story of the IVF pioneers who founded Bourn Hall Fertility Clinic in Cambridge is being brought to life in a new Netflix film.

Joy, which premieres at the British Film Festival on October 15, tells the story of how a maverick Cambridge scientist, an ambitious gynaecologist and a nurse made one of the greatest breakthroughs in the history of medicine.

The film stars Bill Nighy as Patrick Steptoe, James Norton as Robert Edwards and Thomasin McKenzie as Jean Purdy.

When the NHS refused to support the development of IVF, the three pioneers tried to urgently raise funds for a private clinic close to Cambridge where they could continue their work.

A secret benefactor came forward and Jean eventually found a Jacobean manor house for sale, which became the Bourn Hall became the world's first IVF clinic.Bourn Hall became the world's first IVF clinic. (Image: Bourn Hall.)

 

Robert Edwards was a professor at Churchill College, and his research was initially treated with suspicion as in the 1960s infertility was not considered to be an issue.

He recalled in 2007: "I had to convince a lot of people, and many people wouldn’t be convinced, so 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."

Professor Edwards met Patrick Steptoe, a consultant gynaecologist from Oldham, who was an expert in laparoscopy - a technique that could find women's eggs - and was frustrated by the number of women he saw who were infertile as a result of blocked fallopian tubes.

The two men joined forces and took on Cambridge nurse Jean Purdy, initially as a laboratory technician, but she was eventually recognised as the first clinical embryologist.

According to her obituary, published in The Times in 1985, Jean was the first person in the world to recognise and describe the formation of the early human blastocyst - a foundational stage for embryo stem cell technology.

The film Joy stops at the birth of Louise Brown, the first 'test-tube' baby.

Louise's parents Lesley and John Brown travelled from their home in Bristol to Bourn Hall for further IVF treatment, and later welcomed their second daughter Natalie.

Cambridge regional lead embryologist Adam Burnley, who joined Bourn Hall nearly 40 years ago, said: "When I started at Bourn Hall in 1986 Patrick Steptoe and Bob Edwards were still working at the clinic and Louise was a toddler. 

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"During those early days, embryology was still evolving and I saw 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 an embryologist.  

"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."

Joy will be available on Netflix from November 22. 

Bourn Hall Clinic, the world’s first and best-known assisted conception clinic, was established in 1980 by Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards and Jean Purdy, the pioneers of IVF, after their success with the first ‘test-tube’ baby Louise Brown. 

Through innovative thinking the clinic maintains a leading role in the field, supporting both NHS and self-funding patients. It has full-service clinics in Cambridge, Norwich and Wickford, satellite clinics at Colchester and King’s Lynn, and a Fertility Health Suite in Stamford.  

Bourn Hall Clinic has also forged a partnership with the Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.