It’s a long way from Poplar…
The nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House head to the Outer Hebrides in this year’s Christmas special
Since we first met them in 2012, a Christmas get-together with the midwives and sisters of Nonnatus House has become a real festive tradition.
Two years ago, we saw them swap Poplar for sunny South Africa but this year the nurses will be needing more than their red woollen cardigans as they travel to the barren Outer Hebrides.
After influenza strikes Nonnatus House and Mother Mildred hears there’s a shortage of nurses in the Highlands, she decides it’s the perfect place for the nuns and nurses to do good work and convalesce in fresh air.
Fred drives them there but Violet and Reggie are left in Poplar, along with a very
CALL THE MIDWIFE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Christmas Day, BBC1, 7pm
disappointed Sister Monica Joan. Although the special was filmed in March, festive touches got the cast in the mood.
“You respond to pine needles, don’t you?” said Linda Bassett, who plays Nurse Crane. “You get that smell in your nostrils and that’s Christmas.”
Recently seen in the I’m A Celebrity jungle, Cliff Parisi, known to fans as Fred Buckle, admits that it was quite an eye-opener meeting the people of remote Harris, where the cast and crew were based.
“They’re all related,” he laughed. “And they’d all have about five jobs. The postman was also the undertaker and the barman in the hotel and you’d constantly be doing double takes. That was quite funny. But they were all really welcoming.”
Guest star Miriam Margolyes, who plays Mother Mildred, has loved returning to the show, having made her debut in last year’s Christmas special, but admits the conditions were challenging.
“They tried very hard to keep us warm,” she said. “I just said, ‘I want soup!’ But it was difficult to get it because we were in quite isolated places up hills. It was quite a struggle physically. It wasn’t the most comfortable of shoots but it was the most inspiring.”
Despite the struggle, for Miriam it was an unforgettable experience. She said: “The Outer Hebrides would be a wonderful place to have Christmas because there is a simplicity and warmth about the people. That is what Christmas should be about – being kind.” Miriam said that it’s an honour to be part of the hit drama. She added: “The values in the show are good. I’m old fashioned. I’m foul-mouthed, yes, but I love the honesty and decency of this show.”