‘We always watch Call The Midwife on Christmas Day!’

Jenny Agutter on her family’s traditions and her plans for this year

Jenny lives in Cornwall with her husband, Johan, and her wire-haired dachshund, Tufty. She has a son, Jonathan.

CHRISTMAS AT NONNATUS HOUSE

We filmed series 10 of Call The Midwife this year, when lockdown restrictions were lifted. I can’t tell you how lovely it was to get back to work and see everybody. This year has really pressed home that you take things as they come and that’s all you can do.

I went back with a little trepidation.

I thought it was going to feel horrible, because we couldn’t just be, and see one another, hug one another and talk in the make-up van. But I felt grateful to be working and the team was together. It felt very relaxed, because it was so organised. There was a measure stick that came out to make sure that we kept two metres apart, and we had masks on all the time. When the actors were acting, the masks came off, but I was sure I was going to forget sometimes and be filmed with my mask on.

It’s always very peculiar filming the Christmas special so early.

Last Christmas, we did it in the Outer Hebrides. That was freezing cold, so it felt like winter and it was very Christmassy. Generally, you’re filming in the spring, when the sun’s there, but you have fake snow piled up outside. You’re pretending to be cold, but you’re sweating away with masses of scarves, jumpers and coats on.

This Christmas, a circus comes to Poplar! It’s really charming. Sister Monica Joan gets into trouble, which she normally does – it’s Christmas. Winter is hard for her. I think, when you’re elderly, it can be a difficult time. As ever, time moves on in the Christmas special, and there are a few babies born, too.

I’ve always watched Call The Midwife on Christmas Day. There are so many characters in it, so you’re not watching it to watch yourself; you’re seeing how the story comes together, and that’s always interesting. My family like it, so it has been something that they want to watch anyway.

But I certainly wouldn’t infringe on the family’s wishes if they wanted to watch something else.

SISTER JULIENNE’S SECRETS

I never would have seen myself doing this for 10 series. But each year, Heidi Thomas [the show’s creator and writer] brings in such good stories that you feel like it’s fresh all the time. I love the group and the crew that we’re working with, so all of it is a joy. Although I never sign up each year for the following year, I always think, ‘Well, let’s see how the scripts are.’ Then, they’re fantastic and I just want to keep going.

Reading scripts is hard work – they’re not like reading a book. With Call The Midwife, it’s interesting to work on something in which you read the script and you’re touched by what you read. There are still

‘I can’t tell you how lovely it was to get back to work’