Jenny Agutter and Helen George tell us what to expect for series 10 of Call the Midwife
Our cover stars Jenny Agutter and Helen George on the 10th series of the popular period drama
Few TV series have captured the hearts of the nation quite like BBC1’S period drama Call the Midwife.
But it’s hard to believe that nearly a decade has passed since we were first introduced to the caring, compassionate and compelling residents of Nonnatus House.
We’ve watched a wonderful array of dedicated nuns and midwives pass through the convent’s doors, and shared their tears of joy and sadness as they have overseen countless complex births and medical cases.
Now, as a much-anticipated 10th series begins this Sunday night, the action moves to 1966 and finds stoical head nun Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) and her team, including super-stylish nurse Trixie Franklin (Helen George), continuing to treat their patients in Poplar. However, they face fresh struggles in their fight to keep their beloved Nonnatus House running.
Here, in an exclusive interview, the always delightful Jenny, 68, and Helen, 36, tell TV Times what’s in store in the seven new episodes...
Both of you are original cast members – did you ever imagine that Call the Midwife would still be going strong after 10 series?
JENNY No! I remember so vividly starting the first series. They were beautiful episodes and suddenly we had this huge audience, which was wonderful, but unexpected, and it just grew. I can’t believe we’ve completed our 10th year. Ten years as a nun is quite something!
HELEN I can’t believe it either.
It’s scary! I remember those first days like it was yesterday. So much has changed and evolved, particularly for Trixie, so it’s remained fresh to me, and people like Jenny have been so supportive personally and professionally.
As the new series kicks off, Nonnatus House is still under threat from the local council. Is there any hope?
JENNY There’s the worry they won’t be able to afford to stay, so they’re having to find money and remain central in that community. Shelagh Turner [the efficient nurse played by Laura Main] comes up with an idea later of teaching midwives, but Sister Julienne initially sees the possibility of midwives being able to be used privately and that would take care of a financial element. But Dr Turner [Stephen Mcgann] doesn’t think we should be dabbling in it.
HELEN Yes, they want to make money by renting out the midwives to a private clinic, the Lady Emily. Trixie is seconded there to see if it could be feasible. She’s excited and has this gorgeous pink uniform. But things don’t quite go to plan!
What does she experience there?
JENNY We really see what the middle-class families there expect. It’s a different world!
HELEN Yes, it’s an eye-opener to see these women in this private maternity home getting first-class care as if it’s a hotel. They are completely different from the women Trixie’s treating in Poplar, who live in tenement buildings. It’s a shock seeing how the other half lives.
What can you tell us about the births we’ll see this time?
HELEN At the Lady Emily, Mr Scarisbrick [Young Wallander star Richard Dillane], who runs it, pampers the mothers and that takes their confidence away. We meet Fiona [The Crown’s Jo Herbert], who’s tired and could just do with some vitamins, but Mr Scarisbrick insists on admitting her. It’s buying into this idea that women can’t cope, but we can!
JENNY Yes, and Sister Julienne deals with a wonderful quick birth. But then the mother’s neighbour is also giving birth and has problems. It’s a touching story. There’s a real mystery as to why it’s happened.
It’s about Call the Midwife showing it’s not always easy.
Do you still love filming the birth scenes?
JENNY Absolutely, and even with social distancing now, the mothers are there with their babies. There’s something so delightful about having these tiny ones around.
HELEN Filming a birth while practising social distancing is tricky, though. We did a lot more with the prosthetic babies this time, because the actors never hold the real babies now, but
I’m pleased that we still get to do those birth scenes.
What other cases and social changes feature in this series?
JENNY Down’s syndrome comes up again. The way it’s done is terrific. And a rare condition arises when Sister Julienne gets involved with a family with a child who doesn’t seem to be thriving as they should. It’s something I knew nothing about.
HELEN There’s also more development in the East End with tenement buildings being knocked down and a new wave of living accommodation coming through, so we look again at social housing.
We hear that Nonnatus House also gets caught up in World Cup fever with a sweepstake...
HELEN That was fun. Trixie draws Argentina and has an Argentinian flag-like dress!
JENNY Yes, it’s a chance to get together and have a knees-up, and Fred Buckle [the handymanturned-newsagent played by Cliff Parisi] is excited! But I don’t think Sister Julienne ends up with a side that she wants! I remember the 1966 World Cup – England were an amazing team but they looked unlikely winners. I was 13 and at boarding school and everybody was caught up with the fervour because it was just so exciting!