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IT wasn’t screaming babies in nappies that drove the cast “Christmas crackers” while filming the traditional festive special.

A donkey called Peter proved to be the biggest problem.

The beast ran riot on the set of the BBC drama.

In the episode, handyman Fred Buckle (played by actor Cliff Parisi) is desperate to get a reindeer for the community’s Christmas nativity show with the local children.

But his mate offers up a donkey instead.

And Cliff joked: “We are always told: ‘Never work with children or animals’. Well in Call The Midwife, we always broke one of those rules as there are babies everywhere.

“But this year for the Christmas special, Fred is meant to get a reindeer and instead he ends up with a donkey.

“We got one called Peter and he was good as gold during rehearsals and then every time we tried to do a take he would wander off.

“He ended up running circles around us. Literally. I got all tied up with his rope lead. It was a nightmare.”

In the 90-minute Christmas episode, there are three newcomers at Nonnatus House – Sister Mildred (Miriam Margolyes), Sister Hilda (Fenella Woolgar) and Sister Frances (Ella Bruccoleri).

And over at Dr Turner’s surgery, he gets a new receptionist Miss Higgins (Georgie Glen).

Viewers will also be thrilled to know actress Helen George – who went on maternity leave from the show last year – is back as Nurse Trixie Franklin.

¬ÊThe show airs on Christmas Day on BBC One at 7.45pm.

„HO! Ho! Ho! Fred Buckle brings some festive joy to the community dressed as Santa.He loves dressing up for the show as there isn’t enough time to lark about in real life because of his tough work schedules. „ÊHe said: “I’d love to put on a wimple and run around, but there never seems time. I think that’ll be my new year’s resolution!”