Meet the cast of Call The Midwife: Get to know the new and returning characters in series 13

Call The Midwife is now well into its second decade, with over 100 episodes so far. The nurses of Nonnatus House have faced down challenges with grit and good humour over the years — and they've delivered a lot of babies!

We've put together a guide to all of Call The Midwife's main characters, including those who have since left the show, along with the actors who played them.

Narrator of Call The Midwife

Vanessa Redgrave as the voice of Jennifer Worth

Duration: Series 1 to present

Who is Jennifer Worth?

Jennifer was the main character of Call The Midwife from series 1 to 3, when she was played on-screen by Jessica Raine. After she left Nonnatus House, she married artist Phillip Worth, who encouraged her to write about her work as a nurse — this provided the basis for the show. She continues to serve as narrator for the show with Vanessa Redgrave as her voice.

What else has Vanessa Redgrave been on?

A legend of stage and screen, Vanessa is part of an acting dynasty that includes her father, Michael Redgrave, and her daughters Natasha and Joely Richardson. She has received the Triple Crown of Acting — an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and two Emmy Awards — and was made a Dame in 2022. She landed a place in cinema history in 1966 when she starred in Blow-Up, an influential film for directors including Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma and Francis Ford Coppola. Her first of six Oscar nominations thus far came in 1966 for her performance in Morgan: A Suitable Case For Treatment, and she would win for Supporting Actress in 1977 for Julia. She starred in two Merchant Ivory films, The Bostonians (1984) and Howards End (1992), both of which also garnered her Oscar nominations. Alongside her prolific acting career, Vanessa has dedicated her life to political activism, from anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1960s to anti-Iraq War protests in the 2000s, as well as supporting the cause of Palestinian liberation and the rights of refugees.

Cast of Call The Midwife

Jenny Agutter plays Sister Julienne

Duration: Series 1 to present

Who is Sister Julienne?

Sister Julienne is the sister-in-charge at Nonnatus House and manages all the other midwives. She is no-nonsense and steadfast, but she is also a warm figure and is willing to offer comfort to the younger sisters.

What else has Jenny Agutter been on?

Jenny has been a working actor since she starred in East Of Sudan (1964) at the age of 12. She played Roberta in The Railway Children TV show in 1968, and she has returned to this world twice — in the same role in the 1970 film version and the 2022 sequel The Railway Children Return, and as Mother in the 2000 made-for-TV film. Her successful cinematic career continued into the 1970s and onwards, giving her starring roles in films including Walkabout (1971), Logan’s Run (1976) and An American Werewolf In London (1981). More recently, she shared the screen with Bill Nighy in Sometimes Always Never (2018), and Marvel fans may have seen her as a member of the World Security Council in Avengers Assemble (2012) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). Jenny won an Emmy in 1971 for the TV movie The Snow Goose, a BAFTA in 1977 for her supporting role in Equus and even a TV Choice Award in 2022 for Call The Midwife!

Judy Parfitt plays Sister Monica Joan

Duration: Series 1 to present

Who is Sister Monica Joan?

Sister Monica Joan is the last surviving founder of Nonnatus House, one of the UK’s earliest registered nurses. She retired before the series began, and suffers from dementia, although she remains in good spirits and is well-liked by the younger midwives — even though she has a naughty streak.

What else has Judy Parfitt been on?

Judy’s career began in earnest in the 1960s when she guest-starred in various popular shows, including multiple episodes of The Avengers (1962, 1963, 1967) as different characters. She has acted in adaptations of many great works of British literature, from Pride And Prejudice (1980) to Little Dorrit (2008). She has been BAFTA nominated twice, for The Jewel In The Crown (1984) and Girl With A Pearl Earring (2003). Judy seems to have focused her energies on Call The Midwife since the series began in 2012, although she has found time to guest on series including Vera (2012) and The Game (2015).

Helen George plays Nurse Trixie Franklin

Duration: Series 1 to present

Who is Nurse Trixie Franklin?

Trixie is a senior nurse and midwife at Nonnatus House. She’s outgoing and fun, and a little boy-crazy — when she broke up with Tom Hereward in series 4, she struggled with alcoholism, and this returned when she broke up with Christopher Dockerill in series 7. In series 10, she met Matthew and Fiona Aylward, which led to friendship and eventually romance with Matthew after Fiona tragically dies. The pair are now married, making Trixie, Lady Aylward. In series 13, Matthew moved to New York, leaving Trixie behind, but in the finale she decided to join him. It looks like Trixie will remain part of the show, so maybe we’ll see her in the Big Apple next series…

What else has Helen George been on?

Before joining Call The Midwife in its first season, Helen had smaller roles in shows including Hollyoaks, Hotel Babylon and Doctors. She’s since guest starred in Red Dwarf and DI Ray, and played Miss Shelley in Nativity Rocks! (2018). In 2015, she competed on Strictly Come Dancing, landing in sixth place with partner Aljaž Skorjanec. Helen dated Jack Ashton, who played Reverend Tom Hereward on Call The Midwife, from 2016 to 2023. The pair became close while shooting the 2016 Christmas special and had two daughters together, Wren and Lark, before their split.

Laura Main plays Nurse Shelagh Turner

Duration: Series 1 to present

Who is Nurse Shelagh Turner?

Gentle and kind Shelagh was known as Sister Bernadette before she decided to leave the order in series 2, when she fell in love with Dr Turner. She is a senior midwife and becomes the manager of Dr Turner’s GP practice. The couple have four children together.

What else has Laura Main been on?

Primarily a theatre actor, Laura has been performing since she was a teenager in her native Aberdeen. More recently, she starred as Fiona in Shrek: The Musical and as M’lynn in Steel Magnolias. Her largest TV role prior to Call The Midwife was as DC Alison Bain on Murder City (2004-2006). Laura has also guest starred on Doctors (2011, 2016), Holby City (2007, 2011) and Father Brown (2014), as well as starring in six episodes of The Mill (2014).

Stephen McGann plays Dr Patrick Turner

Duration: Series 1 to present

Who is Dr Turner?

Dr Turner is the local GP in Poplar, and he works closely with Nonnatus House as their clinical lead. He is married to Shelagh, and the couple have four children between them — Timothy, Dr Turner’s son with his late wife; Angela, who was adopted; May, who is a fostered orphan from Hong Kong; and Teddy, their biological son.

What else has Stephen McGann been on?

Stephen is tied to Call The Midwife in more ways than one, since he’s been married to the show’s creator, Heidi Thomas, since 1991. Stephen played Sean Reynolds on Emmerdale (1999-2002), but his first big success was the show The Hanging Gale (1995), which he co-created with his brother Joe from their own family history. His brother Paul, who also starred in The Hanging Gale, played a different kind of doctor on the BBC — the eighth iteration of the titular Time Lord on Doctor Who. When he’s not acting, Stephen is a passionate medical science communicator, even writing a book covering some of the cases discussed on Call The Midwife.

Cliff Parisi plays Fred Buckle

Duration: Series 1 to present

Who is Fred Buckle?

Fred is the caretaker of Nonnatus House, a role he has held since the end of World War II. While he was in the Army, his wife was killed, and his daughters were looked after by family members. In series 4 he takes an interest in shopkeeper Violet, and the pair are married at the end of the series.

What else has Cliff Parisi been on?

Cliff began his career as a touring stand-up comedian, which he kept up throughout the 1980s until he was cast in Queen Of Hearts (1989). After taking smaller roles in projects including A Bit Of Fry And Laurie (1990), The Saint (1997), Casualty (2000) and From Hell (2001), Cliff was cast as Minty Peterson on EastEnders (2002-2010). More recently, he competed in I’m A Celebrity… in 2019, although his time there was fairly short — he was the third contestant to leave. Cliff thankfully recovered from the hypothermia he suffered while filming the trip to the seaside from the latest series of Call The Midwife and will soon be seen in a guest role on Channel 5’s The Good Ship Murder.

Linda Bassett plays Nurse Phyllis Crane

Duration: Series 4 to present

Who is Nurse Phyllis Crane?

Initially brought in as temporary cover for Sister Evangelina, Phyllis became a permanent resident of Nonnatus House when Chummy announced her resignation. She’s a forceful character, driven and sometimes stern, but the younger midwives have grown to see her as a mentor.

What else has Linda Bassett been on?

Linda began her career in community theatre in the 1970s, and her first on-screen role would come in 1987, when she played Gertrude Stein in Waiting For The Moon. She is perhaps best-known for playing matriarch Ella Khan in East Is East (1999), for which she was BAFTA nominated. Supporting roles in comedic British films followed, including The Hours (2002), Calendar Girls (2003) and Kinky Boots (2005). She played Ella Khan again in West Is West (2010), and from 2008 to 2011 she starred as Queenie Turrill on Lark Rise To Candleford. She has worked with Simon Amstell twice — as Grandma on his show Grandma’s House (2010-2012) and as Dr Yasmine Vondenburg in Carnage (2017). In 2022, she starred in the fifth series of Strike and in 2023 she played a supporting role in The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry.

Annabelle Apsion plays Violet Buckle

Duration: Series 4 to present

Who is Violet Buckle?

Formerly Mrs Gee, shop owner Violet fell in love with and married Fred Buckle in series 4. She and Fred look after Reggie Jackson, a child of Fred’s late cousin who has Down’s syndrome. Later, she ran for the local Tower Hamlets Borough Council, winning herself a seat and gaining some sway to help Nonnatus House.

What else has Annabelle Apsion been on?

Annabelle’s first screen credit was on two episodes of Emmerdale as Lucy Dowling (1988). From 1991 to 1995, she starred as Joy Wilton on Soldier Soldier, and she played Margaret Barnes on The Bill from 2004 to 2005. In 2001 she played Polly Nichols, Jack the Ripper’s first victim, in For Hell, which also featured her Call The Midwife co-star Cliff Parisi. Her longest-running starring role before Call The Midwife was as Monica Gallagher on Shameless from 2004 to 2013.

Daniel Laurie plays Reggie Jackson

Duration: Series 6 to present

Who is Reggie Jackson?

Reggie becomes the ward of Fred and Violet Buckle after his mother — Fred’s cousin — dies suddenly. He has Down’s syndrome, and lives in a residential facility for young adults with disabilities, though he visits Fred and Violet regularly and considers them his surrogate family.

What else has Daniel Laurie been on?

Before he was cast as Reggie, Daniel played Jamie on the TV show Stella (2016). Since he joined Call The Midwife he has starred in an episode of Vera (2020) and four episodes of Finding Alice (2021).

Georgie Glen plays Miss Millicent Higgins

Duration: Series 8 to present

Who is Miss Millicent Higgins?

Millicent is the receptionist at Dr Turner’s surgery. She takes her job very seriously, always wearing formal attire. She’s close with Nurse Phyllis and friendly with the other members of Nonnatus House, having stayed there for a while after her home was burgled in series 11.

What else has Georgie Glen been on?

Georgie is best known outside of her role on Call The Midwife as history teacher Audrey McFall in Waterloo Road, who she played from 2012-2015. She has played different roles in two adaptations of Les Misérables — in 2012 and 2019 — and has been a lady-in-waiting to Judi Dench in both Mrs Brown (1997) and Shakespeare In Love (1998). She has starred with a fellow Call The Midwife cast member twice — with Jenny Agutter in The Railway Children (2000) and with Linda Bassett in Calendar Girls (2003). Since joining the Call The Midwife cast, she has played Dr Wendy Newstone in Ridley (2022) and Diana’s grandmother Ruth Lady Fermoy in series 4 of The Crown (2020).

Olly Rix plays Matthew Aylward

Duration: Series 10 to present

Who is Matthew Aylward?

Matthew comes to the Lady Emily Clinic with his pregnant wife Fiona, where their baby is delivered by Trixie. Unfortunately, when the pair return it is for a much less happy occasion — Fiona is diagnosed with Leukaemia and leaves Matthew a widower. He and Trixie struck up a friendship, which eventually blossomed into a romance, and the pair were married in series 12. In series 13, he upped sticks and moved to New York after his family business failed and his assets were seized. It’s not known yet whether he will return in series 14.

What else has Olly Rix been on?

Olly has been working since 2010, though mostly in smaller roles. In 2015, he played DI Harry Sawyer on WPC 56, and in 2016 he starred as David in Of Kings And Prophets. From 2019 to 2020 he played Edward Stafford on The Spanish Princess. He seems to have focused his energy on Call The Midwife since he as cast in 2021.

Zephryn Taitte plays Cyril Robinson

Duration: Series 8 to present

Who is Cyril Robinson?

Cyril was introduced to the midwives when he was called out to fix Phyllis’ car. He met Lucille when she brought him some tea, and the pair got married in series 11. When Lucille suffered a breakdown in series 12, Cyril bought her a ticket to Jamaica to be with her family, and since she left he has dedicated himself to his new career as a social worker.

What else has Zephryn Taitte been on?

Zephryn has starred in one episode of The Hour (2011), Doctors (2018), Father Brown (2022) and Unforgotten (2023). His biggest role before Call The Midwife was as Dorian in Brothers With No Game, which he played from 2012 to 2018.

Megan Cusack plays Nurse Nancy Corrigan

Duration: Series 10 to present

Who is Nurse Nancy Corrigan?

Early on, Nancy reveals that she had a child when she was only 16 — Colette, who lives first at a Catholic orphanage and then with a foster family, and has been told that Nancy is her sister. Colette becomes her motivation for qualifying as a midwife and earning enough to get them somewhere to live together. In the 2023 Christmas special, their little family was finally united when she and Colette were given their own room at Nonnatus House. Nancy has become fast friends in series 13 with new pupil midwives Joyce and Rosalind.

What else has Megan Cusack been on?

Megan is a member of a performing dynasty — her grandparents are actors Cyril and Maureen Cusack, and her aunts Sinéad, Sorcha, Niamh and Catherine are all actors. Megan’s first cousin is Max Irons, Sinéad’s son with her husband Jeremy Irons. Before she joined the cast of Call The Midwife, she had featured in one episode of Doctors (2018) and on stage in an Irish production of The Cherry Orchard (2020).

Rebecca Gethings plays Sister Veronica

Duration: Series 12 to present

Who is Sister Veronica?

Health visitor Sister Veronica is kind and no-nonsense, but a bit of a liar. She joined the order of Saint Raymond Nonnatus at the same time as Sisters Bernadette and Hilda, and was in charge of a nursery run by the order in Hong Kong. She looked after May Tang there, who would later join the Turner family in Poplar.

What else has Rebecca Gethings been on?

Rebecca’s first on-screen role was on EastEnders in 2001, and in 2006 she had a small role in Casino Royale. She has worked with Armando Iannucci behind and in front of the camera, playing Helen Hatley in The Thick Of It (2012) and improvising with the cast in seasons 1 and 3 of Veep. She played further comedic characters in The Mimic (2014), Flat TV (2014-2016) and David Brent: Life On The Road (2016). During the Covid-19 lockdown, she hosted a podcast called Dear Crocodile with her young daughter.

Renee Bailey plays Pupil Midwife Joyce Highland

Duration: Series 13 to present

Who is Pupil Midwife Joyce Highland?

Joyce is one of two new recruits for series 13 — she lives with fellow pupil Rosalind. Originally from Trinidad, she has an estranged husband who she left in the Caribbean.

What else has Renee Bailey been on?

Renee is new to acting, and had mostly starred in short films before she was cast on Call The Midwife. On TV, she has played Leila in Rebel Cheer Squad: A Get Even Series (2022) and Paris in Mood (2022).

Natalie Quarry plays Pupil Midwife Rosalind Clifford

Duration: Series 13 to present

Who is Pupil Midwife Rosalind Clifford?

Rosalind is a new member of Nonnatus House, joining in series 13 as a pupil alongside Joyce.

What else has Natalie Quarry been on?

Like Renee, Natalie is just beginning her career — before Call The Midwife, she had guest roles in one episode each of Doctors (2021) and Atlanta (2022). She was a huge fan of the show before joining last year, and had sent the producers an email after she left drama school asking to be cast in an episode.

Former stars

Jessica Raine played Jenny Lee

Duration: Series 1 to 3

Who is Jenny Lee?

Jenny, who is initially the main character of the show and always the narrator (although she’s played by Vanessa Redgrave when she’s narrating), arrives at Nonnatus House with little idea of the world she is entering, but soon settles in. After taking care of Chummy’s dying mother and grieving the death of her boyfriend Alec, Jenny decided to change her nursing focus to end-of-life care. At the end of series 3 she left Nonnatus House to work at the Marie Curie Hospital. Later, we learned that she had married artist Phillip Worth, whose cousin Jeanette had been one of Jenny’s patients.

What else has Jessica Raine been on?

Jessica has had a very successful career since she left Call The Midwife. In 2015, she was on 6 episodes of Wolf Hall as Jane Rochford, 10 episodes of Fortitude as Jules Sutter and 6 episodes of Partners In Crime as Tuppence Beresford. She has also starred in Jericho (2016), The Last Post (2017), Patrick Melrose (2018) and Becoming Elizabeth (2022). She is the co-lead of Prime Video show The Devil’s Hour with Peter Capaldi, and will star again in the new series, due to be released October 28th.

Pam Ferris played Sister Evangelina

Duration: Series 1 to 5

Who is Sister Evangelina?

Sister Evangelina is a devout nun and an excellent midwife, though she can be brash and initially clashes with Phyllis. In series 5, Sister Evangelina suffers a series of strokes, and finally passes away in her sleep at Nonnatus House.

What else has Pam Ferris been on?

Pam has been acting for over four decades, with early roles including Mavis in Mike Leigh’s Meantime (1983), Nesta on Connie (1985) and Ma Larkin on The Darling Buds Of May (1991-1993). Millennial readers will know her best as Trunchbull in Matilda (1996) and Marge Dursley in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004), and older readers will recognise her from her long-running role as Laura Thyme on Rosemary & Thyme (2003-2006). More recently, she played Queen Victoria in Holmes & Watson (2018) and Mrs Faulkner in Tolkein (2019). Sister Evangelina was written off Call The Midwife at Pam’s request due to family commitments — she wanted to spend more time with her husband and her two dogs.

Miranda Hart played Chummy Noakes

Duration: Series 1 to 4

Who is Chummy Noakes?

Chummy (born Camilla Fortescue-Cholmondeley-Browne) is a nurse and midwife, with good humour and endless kindness, although her height makes her clumsy and self-conscious. Flying in the face of her upper class upbringing, she dedicated herself to midwifery, and married police constable Peter Noakes. Chummy left Nonnatus House after her mother died in series 4, to be a temporary matron at a mother and baby home.

What else has Miranda Hart been on?

Miranda is best known for creating her eponymous sitcom, Miranda (2009-2015), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA. She played Barbara on Not Going Out (2007-2009) and has featured in a few French and/or Saunders shows — Absolutely Fabulous (2004), The Vicar Of Dibley (2005) and the Red Nose Day sketch French And Saunders’ Mamma Mia! (2009). She has had supporting roles in a few films, including Spy (2015), Emma (2020) and Monday Monday (2009), which also starred Call The Midwife’s Jenny Agutter.

Bryony Hannah played Sister Mary Cynthia

Duration: Series 1 to 6

Who is Sister Mary Cynthia?

Cynthia is caring and intelligent, if a little shy. She joined Nonnatus House as an ordinary nurse, but in the 2014 Christmas special decided to become a nun. In series 5, she was attacked by a man who had been terrorising women in the area. She went to the Mother House to recover, but required more care and was sent to a mental institution, where she remains.

What else has Bryony Hannah been on?

Largely a stage performer, Bryony was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2012 for The Children’s Hour, which co-starred Elisabeth Moss and Keira Knightley. On screen, she played Christine in the Sharon Horgan sitcom Dead Boss (2012). Since leaving Call The Midwife she has played Alice in The Last Duel (2021) and Ellen in Firebrand (2023), as well as guest starring in an episode of Death In Paradise (2021).

Emerald Fennell played Nurse Patsy Mount

Duration: Series 2 (guest role), 3 to 6

Who is Nurse Patsy Mount?

Patsy grew up in Singapore, living comfortably until her family were captured and detained in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, where her mother and sister died of typhoid — possibly inspiring her career as a nurse. When she joined Nonnatus House, she became Trixie’s roommate, and it was revealed that she was in a relationship with a woman — Delia. She and Delia kept their relationship a secret due to the treatment of homosexuality at the time, although they were able to live together. In series 7, they go travelling together, and eventually move to Scotland.

What else has Emerald Fennell been on?

Emerald has had an extremely successful career after Call The Midwife, even winning an Oscar in 2021. She has continued to act, playing Camilla on The Crown (2019-2020) and Midge in Barbie (2023), but has mainly focused on writing and directing. She wrote most of series 2 of Killing Eve (2019) and wrote and directed Promising Young Woman (2020) — for which she won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay — and Saltburn (2023).

Victoria Yeates played Sister Winifred

Duration: Series 3 to 7, 8 (guest role)

Who is Sister Winifred?

Sister Winifred was brought to Nonnatus House to replace Sister Bernadette, who left in series 3. She is from the countryside, and as a recently qualified nurse had not experienced the level of depravation in Poplar. But she comes to enjoy her role, and in the 2018 Christmas Special decides to go to the Mother House to work with children at the orphanage.

What else has Victoria Yeates been on?

Since leaving the show, Victoria has been in A Discovery Of Witches (2021) and two Fantastic Beasts movies — The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2018) and The Secrets Of Dumbledore (2022) — as Bunty Broadacre. Victoria got engaged to musician Paul Housden in South Africa in 2016, when he visited her while she was filming the Call The Midwife Christmas special. The pair got married in 2018 and had a daughter in 2021.

Jack Ashton played Tom Hereward

Duration: Series 3 to 7

Who is Tom Hereward?

Tom was Poplar’s vicar, and worked closely with the nuns at Nonnatus House. In series 3, he began dating Trixie, and proposed to her in series 4, but she broke the engagement when she learned that he was going to be moving to Newcastle. He accompanied the nuns and nurses to South Africa in the 2016 Christmas Special, and got engaged there to Barbara, Trixie’s colleague. In series 7, Barbara sadly died of meningitis, and Tom soon left Poplar to join Barbara’s father on a mission to New Guinea.

What else has Jack Ashton been on?

Before he joined Call The Midwife, Jack had been on odd episodes of Silent Witness (2007), Holby City (2005 and 2010) and Broadchurch (2013). After leaving the show, he has starred in U-Boat Wargamers (2022), as well as Casualty (2022-2023), Waterloo Road (2023) and Professor T (2024). Since 2023, he has played Harry Chilcott on the BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers. From 2016 to 2023, he was in a relationship with Helen George, who plays Trixie on Call The Midwife. The pair share two daughters.

Charlotte Ritchie played Nurse Barbara Gilbert

Duration: Series 4 to 7

Who is Nurse Barbara Gilbert?

Barbara was hired in series 4 to replace Cynthia, and soon found her rhythm as part of the Nonnatus House team. In series 5, she started dating Tom Hereward, and he proposed to her in South Africa during the 2016 Christmas special. In series 7, after returning from a stint in Birmingham, Barbara comes down with blood poisoning caused by meningitis and is rushed to the hospital, where she dies with Tom and her friend Phyllis by her side.

What else has Charlotte Ritchie been on?

Charlotte’s career kicked off when she starred on Fresh Meat (2011-2016) as Oregon while she was still at university. Since leaving Call The Midwife, she has starred in BBC’s Ghosts (2019-2023), Feel Good (2020-2021), Grantchester (2022-2024) and You (2023-). She also appeared on series 11 of Taskmaster as herself, and featured in Wonka (2023) alongside fellow Taskmaster alum Phil Wang.

Jennifer Kirby played Nurse Valerie Dyer

Duration: Series 6 to 9

Who is Nurse Valerie Dyer?

Valerie, who was previously an army nurse and a pub landlady, joined Nonnatus house in series 6 after helping Shelagh tend to some workmen who had been caught in an explosion outside the pub she was working at. In series 8, she learned that her grandmother had been responsible for a series of amateur abortions that had caused complications for the women involved. Her grandmother was arrested and put on trial, but was released into Valerie’s care when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. In the 2020 Christmas special it was revealed that Valerie had left Nonnatus House for the Hope Clinic in South Africa.

What else has Jennifer Kirby been on?

Another actor who mostly performs on stage, Jennifer has starred in Henry IV and Henry V at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Since she left Call The Midwife, she has starred in an episode of Endeavour (2021) and in Vampire Academy (2022) as Alberta Casey.

Leonie Elliott played Nurse Lucille Anderson

Duration: Series 7 to 12

Who is Nurse Lucille Anderson?

Lucille joined Nonnatus House in series 7, as a replacement for Delia. Originally from Jamaica, she faced racism from some patients, but was often defended by her fellow midwives. In series 8, she meets and starts dating Cyril Robinson, a mechanic. The pair got married in the 2021 Christmas special. Depressed due to rising racism in the country and her struggles with conceiving a child, Lucille returned to Jamaica in series 12.

What else has Leonie Elliott been on?

Before she joined the Call The Midwife cast, Leonie had guest starred in an episode each of Casualty (2016), Holby City (2003) and The Bill (2003). She played Fiona on the ‘Hated In The Nation’ episode of Black Mirror (2016), and Cherry Patterson in the Lenny Henry TV movie Danny And The Human Zoo (2015).

Fenella Woolgar played Sister Hilda

Duration: Series 8 to 11

Who is Sister Hilda?

Sister Hilda is bossy and enthusiastic, and sometimes came to disagreements with other members of Nonnatus House. She had previously worked in the East End during the war and is surprised by the deprivation she finds. She stepped up to take charge of Nonnatus House on a few occasions, when Sister Julienne was called away. In the 2022 Christmas special it is revealed that Hilda has returned to the Mother House and then back to Chichester, where she has taken up her midwifery work again.

What else has Fenella Woolgar been on?

Fenella’s first major role was as Agatha in Bright Young Things (2003), and she has also starred in two Mike Leigh films — Vera Drake (2003) and Mr Turner (2013). She played Alison Scotlock on Home Fires (2015-2016) and Lady Brightlingsea on The Buccaneers (2023-). Doctor Who fans will know her best for playing Agatha Christie on ‘The Unicorn And The Wasp’ episode in 2008.

Ella Bruccoleri played Sister Frances

Duration: Series 8 to 10, 11 (guest role)

Who is Sister Frances?

Sister Frances is a novice midwife who upset her Methodist family by joining the Anglican order at Nonnatus House. She is quite shy and lacks confidence, but she comes out of her shell under Sister Julienne’s tutelage. In the series 12 Christmas special, she injured her shoulder falling off a bike and was sent to Chichester to recover.

What else has Ella Bruccoleri been on?

Call The Midwife was one of Ella’s first acting jobs. Since leaving the show, she played Alba in Polite Society (2023), Ali Day in Passenger (2024) and Miss Barragan on series 3 of Bridgerton.

Season 13 guest stars

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

How to watch Call The Midwife

Call The Midwife will return to BBC One for its 14th series in early 2025, following on from a Christmas special. You can catch up with previous episodes of the show on BBC iPlayer.

Madeline Pritchard has been an Editorial Assistant for TV Choice and its sister publication Total TV Guide for three years. Madeline mainly covers film for the magazines, but she has a soft spot for American prestige TV and anarchic Channel 4 comedy shows.