N¦Œ± AEÌÒ”¦¸ĥÌ ”ae ‹¦’Ì Ò½ ¤³Ò ŒÌ” È”³”Ì”
EXES Epstein & Ghislaine PAEDOPHILE Jeffrey Epstein’s British ex-lover is trying to block the release of thousands of documents about her relationship with the billionaire.
Ghislaine Maxwell, 57, who introduced the disgraced American to Prince Andrew, denied she was involved in his alleged abuse of underage girls.
A judge ruled thousands of documents related to an alleged “sex slave” of Epstein, 66, who has been charged with underage sex trafficking, can be released.
Ms Maxwell claims the release would cause a “frenzy” that may prejudice legal process.
The documents from a 2017 civil case brought by Virginia Giuffre could embarrass Prince Andrew.
He denies allegations that she was forced to have sex with him by Epstein.
Tends, is for me to be 60 and redundant so I have to do yoga and polish things at church and all the other things retired ladies do. “I feel as though there’s a dance in the old dame yet.” But she pledged: “I will always look after Call the Midwife.” The drama is currently commissioned for another three series, till 2022.
Featuring a group of midwives in East London in the 50s and 60s, it stars Jennifer Kirby, 30, Helen George, 35, Leonie Elliot, 31, and Jenny Agutter, 66. Heidi is married to Stephen McGann, 56, who plays Dr Patrick Turner on the show And she has no regrets about staying on the series for so long. Heidi’s younger brother had Down’s syndrome, and she is proud the show has given a voice to disabled people. Speaking to Lord Melvyn Bragg for The South Bank Show, Heidi said: “It’s always
he creator of Call the Midwife plans to give life to new projects as she announces she will quit the hit show. Heidi Thomas is to step away from the BBC drama, which has run since 2012, within the next two years so she can take on other work.
The writer and producer says she will ease herself out.
Heidi, 56, who also wrote BBC’s Cranford, and Upstairs, Downstairs, said: “It’s like owls when they learn to fly – they wriggle along the branch and then suddenly they’re flying. I suppose that will be me in the next year or two.”
She said that while it may have been a labour of love, the annual eight-part series and Christmas specials left her no time for other work.
She said: “When look at the casualties along the way, my path for the last eight years is strewn with bodies, corpses, things I was commissioned and couldn’t write.
“What I don’t want, when Call the Midwife GOOD HABIT Jenny Agutter I worth it. I’ve had a few letters from people saying they haven’t aborted a Down’s syndrome pregnancy because we’ve depicted Down’s syndrome positively. If you’re creating dialogue in wider society that’s an incredible thing for a drama and it makes us take it very seriously.”
In the most recent series, viewers saw the NHS show signs of strain.
Heidi says she fears for the health service today after her mother died at age 80. She said: “It’s so stretched and so frayed and it’s being held together by the goodwill of workers. There’s a huge gap between our perception of what the NHS can do and what we are prepared to pay for.
“My mother died of cancer. It was a short, very intense illness but at the age of 80 you realise there were things she wasn’t eligible for that perhaps at 79 she might have had. There is a sense that older people they’re sort of let go, in a way.”
■ The South Bank Show: Heidi Thomas, August 6, Sky Arts, 10pm.
I don’t want to be 60, retired and have to do yoga and polish things in the church
HEIDI THOMAS ON WANTING TO WORK ON OTHER TV PROJECTS