''The Shift'' or ''Dag & nat'' (literally ''Day & night'') is a Danish television drama series, which was broadcast on TV 2 from 29 May 2022. It was created by

Lone Scherfig Lone Scherfig () (born 2 May 1959) is a Danish film director and screenwriter. She is especially known for her films '' Italian for Beginners'' (2000) and '' An Education'' (2009), and is also known for her romantic comedies, such as '' One Day ...

, who also directed two episodes, while and

Ole Christian Madsen Ole Christian Madsen (born 18 June 1966) is a Danish film director and screenwriter, script writer. Among his most successful projects are the movies ''Flame & Citron'', ''Prag (2006 film), Prag'', ''Angels in Fast Motion'' (danish language, da. ' ...

directed three episodes, each. The first season of eight episodes is set in a short-staffed maternity ward of a hospital facing cutbacks. It stars

Sofie Gråbøl Sofie Gråbøl (; born 30 July 1968) is a Danish actress. She has starred in a number of films, with her breakthrough role in the 1986 Danish film '' Early Spring'', directed by Astrid Henning-Jensen, playing the lead role in the film version of ...

as head

midwife A midwife (: midwives) is a health professional who cares for mothers and Infant, newborns around childbirth, a specialisation known as midwifery. The education and training for a midwife concentrates extensively on the care of women throughou ...

Ella, who is supported by

obstetrician Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...

Jerry (

Pål Sverre Hagen Pål Sverre Valheim Hagen (born 6 November 1980) is a Norwegian stage and screen actor. He is perhaps best known internationally for playing Thor Heyerdahl in the Oscar and Golden Globe nominated film ''Kon-Tiki''. From 2019 to 2023, Hagen portr ...

), midwife Louise (), intern Tine () and

gynaecologist Gynaecology or gynecology (see American and British English spelling differences) is the area of medicine concerned with conditions affecting the female reproductive system. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, which focuses on pre ...

Milad (). A second season, without Gråbøl, but with two new lead actors Anders W. Berthelsen as Lasse and

Ann Eleonora Jørgensen Ann Eleonora Jørgensen (born 16 October 1965) is a Danish film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her work in the TV series ''Taxa'' (1997–1999) and '' The Killing'' (2007), and for her film roles in '' Italian for Beginner ...

as Linda, was filmed from November 2023. The action is set two years later in the same hospital's children's ward with broadcast due in 2024 or 2025.

Premise

Ella is the dedicated head midwife on a respected maternity ward of a Danish hospital. Her team includes obstetrician Jerry, midwife Louise, intern Tine and gynaecologist Milad. Hospital administrator Michael declines Ella's requests for addtitional staff and orders cutbacks instead. This results in overworked staff, falling standards and problematic patient care.

Cast and characters

as Ella: head midwife *

as Gjermund "Jerry": Norwegian-born

obstetrics Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a su ...

-surgeon, separated from wife * as Louise: midwife * as Tine: intern midwife * as Milad:

* as Jacob:

anaesthesiologist Anesthesiology, anaesthesiology or anaesthesia is the medical specialty concerned with the total perioperative care of patients before, during and after surgery. It encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critical emergency medicine, an ...

* as Trille: healthcare worker * as Frederik Faaborg: intern anaesthesiologist * as Michael: hospital administrator *

Birthe Neumann Birthe Neumann (born 30 April 1947 in Vanløse, Copenhagen) is a Danish actress. In 1972 she graduated from the Danish National School of Theatre, and was shortly afterwards employed as an actress at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. At t ...

as Vivi *

Charlotte Munck Charlotte Munck (born 2 December 1969) is a Danish actress. She is notable for starring in the Danish police television drama '' Anna Pihl'' as the title character, which was aired on TV2. She was born in Aarhus and raised in Ørsted Djursla ...

as Marianne: midwife * as Vilhelm: intern midwife * Ole Opsal Stavrum as Torbjørn: Jerry's son * Laura Ljungdahl as Benedikte: midwife * Zelma Feldman Lewerissa as Tara * Signe Thielsen as Aamina * Marie-Lydie Melono Nokouda as Lily

Production

was created, co-written and co-directed by

for Danish television channel TV 2. Filming began in June 2021 with

assigned the lead role of head midwife, Ella. Aside from Scherfig episodes are directed by or

. It's produced by Malene Blenkov of Creative Alliance, which is co-owned by Madsen, Scherfig and Blenkov. Scenes were "was shot in a purpose-built set, and all artificial daylight... as naturalistic as possible". The first two episodes were previewed at

Berlin Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...

's Berlinale Series in February 2022. TV 2 broadcast all eight episodes from 29 May of that year. For the second season, Gråbøl is replaced by two new lead actors Anders W. Berthelsen as Lasse and

as Linda, which began filming in November 2023. The action is set two years later in the children's ward of the same hospital. It is expected to be broadcast in 2024 or 2025. According to TV 2's press release Lone Scherfig is joined by Nicholai Scherfig as the main writers. Lone and Madsen are joined by Henrik Ruben Genz as directors, while Blenkov returns as producer.

Episode guide

Season one

References

External links

* {{Authority control 2020s Danish television series 2022 Danish television series debuts Danish drama television series Danish-language television shows Television shows set in Denmark