ON TV Back on call – but it’s a changing world
FTER a dramatic Christmas episode, our excitement levels were raised even higher for series eight of
Call The Midwife. Thankfully, the wait is over.
Set in 1964, it will see familiar faces in Poplar’s Nonnatus House joined by two new nuns, who are thrown right into the action.
And you can be sure there will be plenty of heartbreaking, heartwarming and humorous moments as the hugely popular show continues (admit it, you sob at every episode...)
Here, some of the key cast members tell us exactly what’s in store for their characters this series.
TRIXIE FRANKLIN
WE saw Nurse Trixie, played by Brummie Helen George, right, 34, return unexpectedly from her time away in Italy in the Christmas episode.
Refreshed and seeming like her troubles are behind her, she’s back to work. And series eight sees her be part of something pioneering – the first smear test to take place in London.
“The doctor starts to do it and she takes over from his lead,” explains Helen, who’s also known for the film The Three Musketeers
“But she pushes the first initiative for smear tests in London. That was really interesting to push that story forward and think, ‘Gosh it was the Sixties and that’s not actually that long ago!”’
There’s a “really interesting ” hermaphrodite storyline Helen is involved in too.
“It’s one which you wouldn’t think would be on Call The Midwife,” she suggests.
“I don’t know why, but with my modern eyes, it felt like a modern storyline. But that’s what we are dealing with in the early Sixties.
“It brings together the medical side with the emotional turmoil she has to face, as she’s just about to get married to her fiancé, so it really ricochets over several members of her family.
“It was fascinating to do. I think Heidi (Thomas, the writer) is also very clever with that. Call The Midwife is always timely.”
NURSE VALERIE DYER
JENNIFER KIRBY, 28, who plays Nurse Valerie, reveals there’s an abortion storyline in the first episode.
And this leads to the issue being a definitive theme across the series, she says.
“There are further cases down the line – I don’t want to spoil anything, but Valerie takes it to heart in a way, because she is so connected to that community. It’s where she’s from, it’s where she’s lived most of her life.” It’s spring of 1964 in the eighth series of BBC1’s Call The Midwife, and the times are changing. chats to key cast members, to hear about the emotional storylines they will be tackling
Of her role this time round, she adds : “I really lly delved into Valerie’s story more – who she is when she’s from Poplar, and who she is when she’s around her family, not just in her professional sense. It’s been amazing.”
We are even introduced to her gran, played by EastEnders and Widows dows star Ann Mitchell.
“She’s amazing in it,” gushes Jennifer, who was raised in the West Midlands and whose first ongoing screen role came when she joined the cast of Call The Midwife.
“No acting required, when I met her, I thought that she was the kindest, nicest person and she’s a wonderful actor. We are really lucky to
hav have her.”
S SISTER JULIENNE
HEIDIH never shies away from dealing with difficult subject matters that took place in the time period of Call The M Midwife – for example, th there’s a focus this ser series on the very early days of the welfare state, and th the fact there’s an awful lot of social soci deprivation around. However, Taunton-born Jenny Agutter, 66, left, who has starred in Call The Midwife since it hit our screens in 2012, says the world of Poplar is different from when the show started.
“One of the big changes in terms of storylines is having come from a world where you don’t have anything, to having a world where suddenly it seems like there are many, many more choices,” she says.
“For the nuns, that’s thrown up very particularly, because we’ve been through the First World War, the Second World War... One’s living in a society that’s becoming affluent, and even in Poplar there is more choice – although the community is held together because it’s not as rich as other places.”
She continues thoughtfully: “The nuns do remain the same in as much as they always have their faith and that holds them, but they’re also working with midwives who are embracing this new world.”
SISTER HILDA
YOU might migh still be recovering recove from Charlotte Cha Ritchie’s departure de from the show s (her character c Nurse Barbara Hereward tragically died from sepsis at the end of series seven).
However, the ex exciting news is the there are a few new faces this series, who we already alrea met in the festive episode.
Miriam Margolyes portrays Sister Mildred, whose character is bound to shake things up in Poplar now she has taken her place as Mother Superior at the Order’s Mother House.
Meanwhile, close friends Sister Hilda, above, (played by Fenella Woolgar) and Sister Frances (Ella Bruccoleri) are two nuns who have already been living together in the Mother House, and now find themselves moving to Nonnatus house to live and work.
So, how did Fenella find filming her first birth scenes?
“It is quite weird I suppose,” admits the 49-year-old, whose standout past T V and film roles include Bright Young Things, Doctor Who and Harlots. “I’ve had children, but I’ve never had to do it the other way.
“We have this wonderful midwife who looks after us and holds our hand through those scenes. But it’s such a special and lovely atmosphere, which I hope comes across in all of those birth scenes, because they are done very carefully.”
The fact it’s often a real newborn baby being used in the birth scenes is “quite intimidating ”, she admits.
“They are long days and incredibly concentrated,” elaborates Fenella.
“Having the real mum and dad