Call the Midwife star reveals Christmas Special spins ‘out of control’ for fan-favourite family
ONE of the stars of Call the Midwife has revealed the Christmas Special will spin ‘out of control’ for a fan-favourite family.
BBC One viewers have been on tenterhooks as they wait for the festive edition of the National Television Award-winning drama.
For the first time in the history of the show, the BBC will screen a double bill of Call The Midwife this Christmas.
Upcoming storylines include the nurses of Nonnatus House having to deal with influenza, the Hong Kong Flu and even an escaped prisoner.
There is also more trouble ahead with Reggie Jackson (Daniel Laurie) as he becomes more independent with age.
But according to one of the shows major stars, the Buckle family could be in for a huge shock this Christmas.
Cliff Parisi, 64, plays handyman Fred Buckle in the hit drama and he says that viewers will see the dynamics shift between him and his ward.
“Normally Reggie’s been really sheltered by Vi and Fred, but they’ve kind of started to try and grant him a little bit more independence as he’s gotten older,” he explained to Radio Times and other assembled outlets.
“So when we do a job together, he gets a separate pay packet with his own name on it.
“He’s now becoming a young man, and they’re trying to respect that and trying to make him more responsible.”
However, the newfound freedom comes with responsibility and the former EastEnders actor hinted that there is much drama ahead.
He exclaimed: “On this particular occasion, things get out of control, I think it does remind them how vulnerable he can be.
“Things are all right when they go right, but if they go wrong, he doesn’t have another option.”
Cliff added: “He doesn’t know what to do.”
Meanwhile, viewers are in for a “dramatic” experience, according to Railway Children star Jenny Agutter.
The 71-year-old actress has played Sister Julienne since she was first cast back in 2012.
Call The Midwife: A breakdown
Call The Midwife first came onto the airwaves in 2012 and has been seen by millions. But what is it about?
Series one: Set in early 1957 and it explored the ‘Baby Boom generation, which included themes of poverty and post-war immigration.
Series two: Set in 1958 and it showed gas and air being introduced for pain relief for the first time. It ended with the Nonnatus House building being condemned.
Series three: Set in 1959 and it depicted gruesome conditions such as cystic fibrosis, polio and it showed the midwives in the context on prisons.
Series four: Set in 1960 under the threat of nuclear warfare and the emergency response guidelines issued by the local Civil Defence Corp. Other themes included LGBT rights, and syphilis.
Series five: Set in 1961 and it shows the care of patients with conditions such as Typhoid and strokes. We also saw the effects of thalidomide, the introduction of the contraceptive pill.
Series six: Set in 1962 and domestic violence was at the centre of the season. Other themes included FGM (female genital mutilation), mental health issues and interracial marriage. It was also notable for the introduction of Reggie, a recurring character with Down Syndrome.
Series seven: Set in 1963 and we see Nurse Lucille Anderson for the first time. We also see the show address conditions such as dementia, huntington’s disease, leprosy and meningitis
Series eight: Set in 1964 and it bravely covered the issue of abortion, which was not legal for another three years in 1967. Sickle cell disease, cleft lip, cleft palate and intersex people also featured.
Series nine: Diptheria was at the centre of the ninth instalment in 1965, and it was notable for featuring a blind expectant mother. But the role of Nonnatus House within the community also came into question.
Series ten: Set in 1966, Nonnatus House has a rival in the form of the private Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair. PKU, diabetes and the controversy surrounding abortion were central themes.
Series eleven: Set in 1967 amid the housing crisis and a scabies epidemic. The show was rocked by a train crash right next to Nonnatus House.
Teasing the upcoming episodes, she told the outlet: “For me, when I read it, I was very touched by it. It’s quite Dickensian.
“It is quite dark, but in with that is a lot of humour and a lot of humanity, and that’s what lightens it.
Adding: “It’s just the recognition that we’re in difficult times.
“We’ve been in difficult times, we always were in difficult times. It just recognises that.”
Call The Midwife returns for part one of The Christmas special on BBC One on Christmas Day.