Midwife

Stephen McGann has opened-up about his character, Dr. Turner, being played by a new actor for the drama’s prequel

Call the Midwife legend Stephen McGann has claimed he “cannot see” the resemblance as a new actor steps into the role of Dr. Turner.

The 12th season of the much-loved BBC period drama, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, concluded earlier this year with a heartbreaking finale. The death of Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) left viewers devastated, while the future of Nonnatus House remained uncertain due to advances in the NHS.

Before the show returns with season 16, a prequel titled Sisters in Arms is set to air this festive season. The three-part mini-series will be set during the London Blitz and follow familiar characters in the early stages of their careers, including Dr. Patrick Turner.

The adored GP first arrived in Poplar during the debut episode of Call the Midwife, which aired in 2012, and has since remained a favourite among fans. The character will appear in the prequel, with This Town actor Ben Rose portraying a young Patrick Turner.

Speaking about Sisters in Arms, Stephen, 63, has offered a playful glimpse into his marriage with the show’s creator, Heidi Thomas, who thinks Ben Rose is the spitting image of her husband. “I think he’s the image of Steve,” Heidi told Radio Times. “Steve can’t see any resemblance, so the audience are going to have to draw their own conclusions.”

Stephen was quick to chime in: “Do you know what happened? I’m in my house, and when the final casting was confirmed, my good lady wife and my son were conferring, going, ‘Oh, he looks like Dad, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he look like Dad?'”

Heidi laughed: “He does, he does, but you can’t see it, can you, love?” Stephen then confirmed: “I can’t see it at all.”

Stephen and Heidi first crossed paths in 1988 and exchanged vows two years later, when they were both 27. They spent their honeymoon in Tuscany before settling down in a quaint cottage in rural Essex, before moving to Cambridge. The couple share one son, Dominic. As per Stephen’s memoir, A History of My Family in Seven Maladies, he first encountered Heidi when he auditioned for her new play at the Liverpool Playhouse.

What is Sisters in Arms about?

Call the Midwife will turn back the clock to World War II as bombs rain down in Poplar, East London, at a time when the National Health Service was non-existent. Set in 1939, it will see three familiar nuns in the early stages of their careers.

According to the BBC’s synopsis: “In September 1939, Sister Monica Joan is in her prime, Sister Julienne and Sister Evangelina are young and zealous, and Nonnatus House is the beating heart of Poplar.

“Together with Sister Alice, and local GP Dr Kit, the nuns dedicate their lives to mothers, babies and those in need. But there is no gas and air, no penicillin, no cure for TB, and no welfare state. Then war is declared – and life gets even harder.”

It adds: “While bombs rain from the sky, women give birth underground, families are shattered, children run wild, and whole streets are reduced to rubble. But courage, compassion and resilience triumph as the community unites in its efforts to survive.”

Created, written, and executive produced by Heidi Thomas, Sisters in Arms welcomes a new cast, including Coronation Street’s Hayley Cropper star Julie Hesmondhalgh as Sister Alice.

Theatre star Helena Wilson is taking on the role of a young Sister Julienne, though the original actress, Jenny Agutter, will be narrating the miniseries. Ami Metcalf, who played Lynette in the first Christmas special, is returning as Betty Buckle, the first wife of Fred Buckle, now played by Ciaran Bowling. Ben Rose also takes on the role of Dr. Turner.

The BBC has confirmed that Sisters in Arms will air on BBC One and iPlayer this Christmas, though the exact days and times are yet to be confirmed.

Call the Midwife is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

The sequel to a beloved 1970s family film also stars Sheridan Smith and Sir Thomas Courtenay

Call the Midwife fans waiting for the show’s World War II prequel are urged to watch this inspiring movie.

Before Jenny Agutter ever appeared in BBC One’s Call the Midwife as much-loved nun, Sister Julienne, she was already famed for her many acting roles, including her part in The Railway Children.

It’s been more than 55 years since Agutter first waved her red petticoat to save a steam train from disaster in the movie adaptation of the classic story.

The original film was based on the novel by Edith Nesbit about three children who are sent to live in the countryside beside a railway line after their father is arrested on mysterious spying charges.

Agutter played the eldest child, Bobbie Waterbury, in a 1968 TV adaptation, followed by the film two years later. She also played the mother in an ITV remake in 2000.

In 2022, a sequel, The Railway Children Return, arrived, and Agutter sensationally reprised her iconic role as Bobbie.

The film is set amid the Second World War, with the action taking place in the village of Oakworth in 1944. After the major cities become unsafe to live in, three children are evacuated to the countryside, where they hope to build a new life.

They are greeted by Bobbie, who moved to Oakworth three decades earlier, and her adult daughter Annie, played by Sheridan Smith. The children soon discover an injured American soldier at the nearby railyard and attempt to help him get back home.

Tom Courtenay also stars in the movie as Uncle Walter, and is joined by John Bradley as Richard, KJ Aikens as Abe, Beau Gadsdon as Lily Watts, Eden Hamilton as Pattie Watts, Zac Cudby as Ted Watts, and Austin Haynes as Thomas Waterbury.

Directed by Morgan Matthews from a screenplay by Danny Brocklehurst, the period drama is currently available to stream in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, and fans have dubbed it a “must-watch”.

“Perfect sequel to the original, picking up many social and ethical themes of the time, many still relevant today. Great casting, strong script, and excellent photography,” one viewer wrote on Rotten Tomatoes.

A second stated: “Really good movie with excellent acting and a storyline that pulls you in”, while a third chimed in: “A World War II story that I’ve never heard about. It was very well done.”

“Good wholesome entertainment. Exciting, suspenseful, and inspirational”, explained one fan as another added: “Exceptional movie with real intent and messages given.”

While another said: “It was a beautifully told story with a true meaning of resilience, courage, strength, and making your own family when hard times are around.”

Call the Midwife is streaming on BBC iPlayer, while The Railway Children Return is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Before Pam Ferris picked up a religious habit as Sister Evangelina, she won the hearts of sitcom fans in another historical drama

Call the Midwife icon Pam Ferris is a world away from Sister Evangelina in this 90s classic television show.

The 78-year-old actress is famed for playing tough-talking nun Sister Evangelina on the BBC series, who dedicated her life not only to her religion but also to serving the poorest communities in London as a senior midwife.

Sister Evangelina is an original character introduced during the first episode, which aired in 2012. But only four years later, the beloved nun died suddenly in her sleep after suffering a stroke, leaving Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) to find her lifeless body in her chair.

Earlier this year, during the series 15 finale, Pam Ferris reprised her role as Sister Evangelina to guide her dear friend Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) into the afterlife in a very emotional scene.

However, before Ferris ever picked up her wimple and adopted constant words of wisdom, she was known by sitcom fans for her role in another cosy period drama, The Darling Buds of May.

The much-loved ITV series debuted in April 1991 and is an adaptation of the H. E. Bates novel of the same name.

The show told the story of the Larkin family and their lives in rural Kent during the 1950s, and was led by a small cast, including Sir David Jason as Pop Larkin, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Mariette, and Philip Franks as Cedric.

It quickly became a feel-good ratings success and will surely always be seen as a ‘90s classic – despite only running for 20 episodes.

The Darling Buds of May is currently streaming for free on ITVX and has been hailed as a must-watch by fans who have enjoyed the show for decades.

On IMDb, one person dubbed the show “So endearing, funny and perfect!”, while a second added, “If only there was more.”

A third stated: “It doesn’t get much better! I purchased the whole series a few years ago and then watched the whole series within a few days.”

“One of the most beloved British comedy-dramas of the 1990s, The Darling Buds of May remains a comforting television classic — full of warmth, countryside charm, and unforgettable performances”, wrote one person on Facebook.

“Loved it…. easy watching….like All Creatures Great and Small”, commented one viewer while another confessed: “I absolutely love this programme and always watch when it’s on the television no matter how many times I watch.”

Over the years, Ferris has gained more fame on the big screen as the wicked Miss Trunchball in Matilda, floating Aunt Marge in the Harry Potter franchise, and kind-hearted headteacher, Mrs Bevan, in Nativity!

She went on to feature in a number of costume dramas, such as Middlemarch, Jane Eyre, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and popular crime serials, such as Marple, Rosemary & Thyme, and Luther, and even appeared as Cath in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey.

Call the Midwife is available on BBC iPlayer