Appal the Midwife...
Miriam revolts cast by munching whole raw onions
MIRIAM Margolyes made an eyewatering debut in Call the Midwife – by scoffing whole onions on set.
Co-stars including Jenny Agutter were stunned as the 77-year-old ate the veg as though they were apples during filming for the Christmas special.
A source said: “When she first did it, everyone was laughing and pulling faces, thinking how horrible it must taste.
“Miriam just peeled it and munched away. She couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about.” But the star laughed off her odd habit last night – telling the Mirror she has eaten raw onions all her life because she likes the taste.
Miriam said: “It makes my eyes water but I don’t mind. On Call the Midwife I asked them to put an onion in my Welsh rarebit and they just sprinkled
bits on top. I had to explain I wanted a whole one, raw, on the side. I don’t know if it’s good for me but it’s great in the winter because it keeps people away from me, so I catch fewer colds from them. I like radishes as well.”
Harry Potter star Miriam arrives at Nonnatus House as “forthright and indefatigable” new character Sister Mildred, bringing four orphans from Hong Kong. The plot continues into series eight from January.
Other new characters include War & Peace’s Fenella Woolgar as Sister Hilda and The Last Kingdom’s Ella Bruccoleri as trainee nun Sister Frances.
Last year’s special was Christmas Day’s top draw with 9.5million viewers.