SPECIAL DELIVERY!
AS CALL THE MIDWIFE CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY, BIG CHANGES ARE AFOOT FOR THE BELOVED NUNS AND NURSES…
We make a muchanticipated return to Poplar this week, for a remarkable tenth run of Call The Midwife – with our backdrop now the swinging London of 1966. Yes, the times, they are a-changing… Which means it’s all systems go for the staff of Nonnatus House.
“It’s a thrilling period with extraordinary breakthroughs happening in every way,” shares Jenny Agutter, who has played head of Nonnatus, Sister Julienne, from the show’s beginning. “There’s a lot going on, such as the exploration of space – and 1966 is of course the year that England won the World Cup!
“At Nonnatus, the year is all about trying to create a possible future, modernising and doing things differently so that the order can move into the modern age,” she adds. “There’s a sense now that it may no longer fit, and Sister Julienne is addressing that.”
Major impetus for keeping up with the times is that the future of Nonnatus remains under threat due to council funding cuts. But while Sister Julienne’s suggestion to boost their depleted finances via a private clinic venture creates tension with colleague Dr Turner, for midwife Trixie, it prompts a thrilling opportunity…
“Trixie is asked by Sister Julienne to go to a private clinic in Chelsea,” reveals Helen George, who plays her. “Her task is to observe how their systems work, and the thought is that Nonnatus will rent out midwives and nuns to the clinic to help with deliveries and staffing. It’s very exciting!”
There’ll be significant changes inside of Nonnatus,
IT’S ABOUT THE ORDER MOVING INTO THE MODERN AGE”
JENNY
too, with Sister Julienne planning further updates that may prove particularly close to home for some…
“There’s also the possibility of the nuns wearing a different habit,” shares Jenny. “I know Sister Julienne would like to see those changes happen. However, it’s quite hard to see them being drastically different. It’s about trying to find the right balance. They’re not going to start dressing in miniskirts, I don’t think!”