Baby gives Midwife stars new perspective as pair reveal Christmas show details

CALL THE Midwife stars Helen George and Jack Ashton have told of how having a baby has changed their feelings about the series.

George and Ashton, who are in a relationship off-screen, announced the birth of their daughter Wren in October after filming had finished on the Christmas special. Ahead of the seasonal episode of the popular BBC One drama, George – who plays midwife Trixie Franklin – said she feels more emotional about the programme now she is a mother.

She said: “I definitely felt more emotional about it.

“I mean I love babies, and I’ve always found these scenes emotional, but it’s something else watching it this time, I was like ‘oh my God’.”

Ashton, who plays Rev Tom Hereward, said that fatherhood has “enlightened” him, and that a lack of sleep has helped him channel his emotions on screen.

He said: “To be honest, I don’t really get involved with the childbirth aspect of this show.

“But yes, it’s certainly enlightened me a lot, and it absolutely changes you as a person.”

This year’s Call The Midwife Christmas special will see the beloved characters battling through the coldest winter on record in 1962/63, which brought the country to a standstill.

The midwives struggle to provide the best care for their patients, and Jennifer Kirby – who plays Nurse Valerie – explained that there are “many, many repercussions” from that.

She added: “Valerie helps out a young mother give birth in the weather conditions in a tiny little caravan and there’s lots of fallout from that. And then there’s also another storyline with Jenny Agutter (Sister Julienne) and guest starring Anita Dobson (Mabel), which is brilliant by all accounts. And dealing with a loss in the family and what that entails.”

Stephen McGann, who plays Dr Turner, said that this year’s Christmas special is a “bit different from last year”. “That’s really a lovely thing to come home and it hits you with a bang.”