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Comfort and joy: Festive spirit reaches the midwives
Although there have only been two previous Midwife festive specials, both have been big ratings winners and a visit to Nonnatus already feels like a regular fixture in the Christmas Day TV schedules.
As Vanessa Redgrave – the narrator of this hit series – movingly declares, “Christmas is a time for reaching out and finding comfort in the magic of a season that endures.”
And compassion is certainly a theme which is central to this heartwarming festive special, featuring the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House.
Set against a Yuletide backdrop of snowstorms, mince pies and a cute nativity play, the special episode also explores tear-jerking issues that will have viewers reaching for the Kleenex.
First, Miranda Hart’s posh character Chummy is called upon to sort out a poorly run mother and baby home.
“Chummy to the rescue, I say. Ticketyboo!” cries the actress, who also appears in the last ever episodes of Miranda on New Year’s Day.
“These girls are not being cared for either emotionally or physically.
“It’s a serious storyline, but the episode is still as delightfully Christmassy as ever. Chummy puts a show together with the little girls and it’s very sweet.”
BBC Careful: Chummy takes a walk in the snow
Elsewhere, former EastEnders actress Kacey Ainsworth – who played Little Mo between 2000 and 2006 – guest stars as Nancy, a vulnerable former resident of a Victorian mental hospital, who believes she may be pregnant.
“For me, this episode is about the people who are excluded from society,” explains Pam Ferris, who plays Sister Evangelina. “Why should they be hidden away at Christmas and not allowed to take part in things?”
It’s also a big episode for sweet-natured Cynthia, who takes Nancy under her wing and ponders a potentially life-changing decision.
“Cynthia is on a voyage of self-discovery,” hints Bryony Hannah, who portrays the deeply religious midwife. “She’s searching for something and is looking for a sign that it’s the right thing to do – an unselfish act.”
CTM fans are also in for a special treat as the Christmas episode is the first time thatveteran actress Vanessa Redgrave is actually seen on screen.
She plays Jenny Worth, who wrote the books from which the acclaimed series is adapted.
Viewers will see her in 2005, preparing for Christmas and reminiscing about her old friends at Nonnatus House back in 1959.
And compassion is certainly a theme which is central to this heartwarming festive special, featuring the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House.
Set against a Yuletide backdrop of snowstorms, mince pies and a cute nativity play, the special episode also explores tear-jerking issues that will have viewers reaching for the Kleenex.
First, Miranda Hart’s posh character Chummy is called upon to sort out a poorly run mother and baby home.
“Chummy to the rescue, I say. Ticketyboo!” cries the actress, who also appears in the last ever episodes of Miranda on New Year’s Day.
“These girls are not being cared for either emotionally or physically.
“It’s a serious storyline, but the episode is still as delightfully Christmassy as ever. Chummy puts a show together with the little girls and it’s very sweet.”
Elsewhere, former EastEnders actress Kacey Ainsworth – who played Little Mo between 2000 and 2006 – guest stars as Nancy, a vulnerable former resident of a Victorian mental hospital, who believes she may be pregnant.
“For me, this episode is about the people who are excluded from society,” explains Pam Ferris, who plays Sister Evangelina. “Why should they be hidden away at Christmas and not allowed to take part in things?”
It’s also a big episode for sweet-natured Cynthia, who takes Nancy under her wing and ponders a potentially life-changing decision.
“Cynthia is on a voyage of self-discovery,” hints Bryony Hannah, who portrays the deeply religious midwife. “She’s searching for something and is looking for a sign that it’s the right thing to do – an unselfish act.”
CTM fans are also in for a special treat as the Christmas episode is the first time thatveteran actress Vanessa Redgrave is actually seen on screen.
She plays Jenny Worth, who wrote the books from which the acclaimed series is adapted.
Viewers will see her in 2005, preparing for Christmas and reminiscing about her old friends at Nonnatus House back in 1959.
“It’s funny how quickly Call The Midwife has been accepted as an established Christmas Day tradition,” laughs Stephen McGann, (Dr Patrick Turner). “We consider it a real privilege.”
With Jessica Raine having left her role as Jenny Lee, peroxide blonde nurse Trixie Franklin is now one of the lead characters. Viewers will see her relationship with handsome vicar Tom Hereward (Jack Ashton) reach an important crossroads.
“Trixie is really enjoying Christmas with the vicar,” explains Helen George, who plays her. “They’ve been dating a while now.
“Making the festive special was weird because we filmed it in summer, when it was 30˚C. But being in such a popular Christmas show is what actors dream of.”
As ever, the miracle of childbirth plays a big part in the action, with life imitating art for some of the actors involved. Ben Caplan plays new father PC Peter Noakes, who dotes on his baby son Freddie. And off-screen Ben became a dad this month, too.
“It was really emotional for me to see the birth scenes in the Christmas special,” Ben admits. “Because it’s only recently that I was in the delivery room watching my wife give birth to our daughter.
“It’s so great to celebrate the work of midwives, as they do an absolutely incredible job.”
Cliff Parisi, who dresses up as Santa for this episode in his role as handyman Fred Buckle, is also looking forward to a very special Yuletide gift.
“My wife is due just after Christmas,” says Cliff, who also played EastEnders’ Rick ‘Minty’ Peterson. “
There’s going to be babies everywhere – I just think it’s brilliant.”
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