A HELPING HAND?
The Turners are rattled by their new employee at the surgery – formidable receptionist, Miss Higgins. “Shelagh is grateful to have her support because she wants to spread her wings and already she is doing a lot more nursing than reception work which we have gradually seen happening,” says Laura Main who plays Shelagh Turner, wife of Dr Patrick Turner (Stephen McGann).
“But there are some teething problems with Miss Higgins. She means well but she is quite particular about how she likes things done and isn’t terribly discreet. She will blithely shout across the reception room about somebody being ill with whatever ailment.
“Patrick is a little afraid of her but Shelagh is doing her best to steer her in the right direction. I think they will get on, but it’s early days.
“In the Christmas Special and the new series we see Shelagh with a lot more help in her life. She’s now got Miss Higgins at the surgery and a nanny for the baby, Teddy. So things are not quite so hectic for her.”
Laura looks forward eagerly to returning to film CallTheMidwife each year.
“It’s wonderful that we’ve been commissioned for the ninth series as well,” she says. “Who’d have believed when we began in 2011 that we’d be talking about a series nine airing in 2020? That’s almost a decade. It’s amazing.
“Every season is a learning curve – from learning about the Thalidomide scandal to homosexuality being illegal.
“I’ve loved going on this ride with Shelagh – it has been beyond anything I could have imagined.”
“Miss Higgins will shout across the room about someone’s ailment”