Jess, gin and fag end of Empire...

Jessica Raine’s next big BBC character sounds way more hell-raising than prim Jenny Lee from Call the Midwife.

She says of The Last Post: “It’s a new series set in the 60s. I play this character called Alison who is wild and ends up losing the way with her husband.”

It was filmed in Yemen and Cape Town and is set against the backdrop of the receding British Empire. The series will be on screens later this summer.

Jessica, pictured in the role, says: “My character loves gin-based conversation. She is incredibly bored and self destructive – the most fun and amazing character I have played.” Chin, chin!