It is a rare thing for a TV show to survive over a decade and still make you cry over a cup of tea. Honestly, most long-running dramas start to feel like they’re just going through the motions after season five, but the characters of Call the Midwife are different. There is a grit there. It’s not just about the crisp white wimples or the shiny bicycles clattering over Poplar cobblestones; it’s about the fact that these people feel like your actual neighbors.
Poplar in the 1950s and 60s was a tough place. The show doesn't shy away from that. We’ve seen characters handle everything from the thalidomide scandal to the legalization of abortion, all while trying to keep their own heads above water. You’ve probably noticed how the cast rotates—midwives come and go like the tide—yet the heart of Nonnatus House stays remarkably steady. It’s a testament to Heidi Thomas’s writing that when a favorite leaves, it actually hurts.
The Evolution of the Nonnatus House Mainstays
If we’re talking about the bedrock of the show, we have to start with Stephen McGann’s Dr. Patrick Turner. He isn’t your typical 1960s "doctor knows best" archetype. He’s vulnerable. He had a mental breakdown in the early seasons that the show handled with surprising tenderness for a period drama. Alongside him is Shelagh Turner, played by Laura Main. Remember when she was Sister Bernadette? Her transition from a cloistered nun to a wife and mother wasn't just a plot twist; it was a deeply personal exploration of faith and identity that mirrored the changing social fabric of Britain.
Then there’s Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne. She’s the steady hand. In a world that was rapidly secularizing, her character remained the moral compass without ever feeling preachy or out of touch. She manages the chaos of the East End with a quiet strength that most of us wish we had during a Monday morning meeting.
The Chaos and Charm of Fred Buckle and Nurse Crane
You can't talk about the characters of Call the Midwife without mentioning Fred Buckle. Cliff Parisi brings this sort of bumbling, golden-hearted energy to the screen. He’s the handyman, the Civil Defence volunteer, the shopkeeper—basically the man who keeps the gears of the community turning.
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And then there is Phyllis Crane. Linda Bassett joined the cast in Season 4, and let’s be real, she stole the show. With her Morris Minor and her "no-nonsense" attitude, she could have easily been a caricature of a stern spinster. Instead, she’s become one of the most layered depictions of an older working woman on television. She is fiercely independent, surprisingly progressive, and her friendship with Miss Higgins is one of the most underrated dynamics in the series. It’s subtle. It’s British. It’s perfect.
Why the Rotating Door of Midwives Actually Works
A lot of fans were worried when Jessica Raine (Jenny Lee) left at the end of Season 3. She was the protagonist, after all. We saw the world through her eyes. But her departure proved that the show wasn't about one person; it was about the vocation.
- Trixie Franklin (Helen George): She started as the "party girl" of the group. Over the years, we’ve watched her battle alcoholism, navigate heartbreaking engagements, and become a pioneer for women's reproductive health. Her evolution is arguably the best in the show.
- Lucille Anderson (Leonie Elliott): Her arrival brought the reality of the Windrush generation to the forefront. The racism she faced was depicted with a raw honesty that forced viewers to look at the darker side of 1960s London. Her departure was heavy, reflecting the real-world mental health struggles many immigrants faced during that era.
- Nancy Corrigan (Megan Cusack): She’s the breath of fresh air. A bit scattered, a bit rebellious, but with a massive heart. She represents the younger, more modern 1960s woman who isn't afraid to push back against the old-school rules of the convent.
The way the show cycles these women in and out reflects the reality of nursing. People move. People get married. People burn out. By constantly introducing new characters of Call the Midwife, the writers keep the perspective fresh while the "older guard" provides the emotional continuity we crave.
Dealing With the Hard Stuff: Representation and Reality
Call the Midwife gets a reputation for being "cozy TV," but that’s kind of a lie. It’s actually pretty brutal. Think about Reggie Jackson, played by Daniel Laurie. Having a recurring character with Down Syndrome who is treated with dignity, given his own storylines, and integrated fully into the community was a huge step for BBC drama. Reggie isn't a "problem to be solved." He’s a vital part of the Buckle family.
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Then you have the medical cases. The show doesn't just use patients as props; it uses them to flesh out the main cast's values. When Sister Monica Joan (played by the legendary Judy Parfitt) starts reciting poetry or losing her grip on reality, it’s not just for eccentricity. It’s a look at aging, dementia, and the loss of purpose. Parfitt is 88 years old in real life, and she still delivers some of the most complex, philosophical lines on television. She is the soul of the house.
The Men of Poplar
While the show is undeniably female-centric, the men aren't just background noise. Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) evolved from a mechanic to a social worker, showing the upward mobility and the struggles of the Black community in East London. And Matthew Aylward? His journey from a grieving widower to Trixie’s husband (and the man funding the survival of Nonnatus House) added a layer of class commentary that the show needed. It highlighted the massive gap between the wealthy "West End" types and the people living in the tenements they owned.
The Characters We Lost: A Reality Check
Death is a frequent visitor in Poplar. The loss of Sister Evangelina (Pam Ferris) was a massive blow to the fans. She was the tough love. The one who grew up in poverty and didn't have time for fluff. Her death in Season 5 marked a turning point; it felt like the end of the "old way" of doing things.
And we can't forget Barbara Hereward (Charlotte Ritchie). That one hurt. A lot. Taking a young, vibrant character and having her die of meningitis was a bold move, but it served a purpose. It reminded the audience—and the other characters of Call the Midwife—that for all the medical advancements of the 1960s, life was still incredibly fragile. It grounded the show back in the stakes of the time.
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How to Keep Up With the Ever-Changing Cast
If you’re trying to keep track of who’s who as the show moves into the late 1960s and early 70s, you need to look at the broader themes. The show is moving toward a period of massive social upheaval.
Watch for these shifts in the upcoming seasons:
- The shift in medical authority: Dr. Turner is no longer the only voice of reason; younger nurses are bringing in "radical" ideas about patient autonomy.
- The secularization of nursing: As the sisters age, the "nuns" part of the show is becoming smaller, while the "midwives" part is becoming more professionalized.
- The changing landscape: The slums are being torn down for high-rise flats. This changes how the characters interact with their patients—no more running up tenement stairs, but also a loss of that tight-knit street community.
To truly appreciate the characters of Call the Midwife, you have to stop looking for a "main character." The community itself is the protagonist. Whether it's Miss Higgins organizing the surgery with terrifying efficiency or Nurse Crane sharing a quiet cigarette, these moments are what build the world.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history that inspired these figures, I highly recommend reading Jennifer Worth’s original memoirs. While the show has far surpassed the books in terms of timeline, the DNA of those real-life women is still visible in every episode. You can also visit the Historic Dockyard Chatham, where much of the show is filmed, to get a literal feel for the world these characters inhabit.
Next time you watch, pay attention to the background players. The mothers who return three seasons later with their fourth child, or the shopkeepers who nod to Fred in the street. That’s where the real magic of Poplar lives.