While most Americans are just now discovering the charms of “Downton Abbey,” Brits are onto the next big thing.

Namely, BBC’s “Call the Midwife,” a period piece set in 1950s London centered on a group of midwives. TV critics are heralding it the Sunday night equivalent of a comfy, warm pair of slippers, and the viewership is off the charts, with 8.5 million Brits watching the series premiere.

I’ll catch it when it hits Netflix. I’m currently immersed in the decidedly non-British escapades of “Breaking Bad.”