Call the Midwife series 14 is currently captivating audiences as the devoted nuns and nurses from Nonnatus House make their weekly appearances on our screens every Sunday. Set in 1970, the show first premiered in 2012, drawing inspiration from Jennifer Worth's experiences as a midwife from the 1950s to the 1960s, as well as the Sisters of St. John the Divine.
This season has seen Dr. Turner, portrayed by Stephen McGann, and the midwives tackle complex medical challenges, including Hong Kong Flu and spinal bifida. As the current season of the BBC period drama continues, we take a look at the famous relatives of the show's stars.
Daniel Laurie, the talented actor who brings Reggie Jackson to life on the show, has been a fan favourite since his arrival in Poplar seven years ago. Interestingly, Daniel is the son of the late Leslie Grantham, a legendary actor from EastEnders. Leslie Grantham was an original cast member playing Den Watts in the BBC soap, starting in 1985 and initially leaving in 1989 before making a memorable return in 2003 for another two years.
In a heartwarming 2006 interview with the Daily Mail, Daniel's mother, Jane, commended Leslie for being a dedicated and "fantastic" father to Daniel, who has Down Syndrome. Reflecting on the early days of fatherhood, Jane recalled: "When he was just a few days old, Leslie looked down at the baby and said 'you know, there are some hard things in life, but this isn't one of them", reports MyLondon.
Sadly, the actor died in 2018, leaving behind a legacy that includes three sons and his former spouse. EastEnders co-star Cliff Parisi fondly remembered working alongside Leslie and later with his real-life son Daniel on Call the Midwife. Meanwhile, everyone's favourite cake-loving nun Sister Monica Joan from Call the Midwife has won over hearts everywhere. Judy Parfitt has brought the character to life since 2012 and shared her personal struggles after the loss of her husband Tony Steedman.
The couple had been married almost 40 years before Alzheimer's claimed his life in February 2001. Parfitt bravely opened up about the loneliness felt while caring for a loved one with dementia in a poignant piece for MailOnline in 2014: "With dementia, there's no conversation, there's no togetherness, no sharing," she expressed. "It leaves you feeling very alone in a marriage.".
Judy and Tony met at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and tied the knot in 1963, sharing a lifetime of memories and a son named David. Like his wife Judy, Tony had a long and illustrious career in television, featuring in a plethora of shows including Inspector Morse, Minder, Casualty, Animal Ark, Days of Our Lives, The Sweeney, Coronation Street, and Citizen Smith.
His filmography is equally impressive, boasting roles in Bill and Ted, Scrooged, The Bunker and many more. Stephen McGann, adored by fans for his role as Patrick Turner in the BBC One period drama since its inception in 2012, leads an interesting life off-screen as well. He's married to Call the Midwife creator and writer, Heidi Thomas, with whom he shares a son named Dominic.
According to Stephen's book: A History of My Family in Seven Maladies, he met Heidi after auditioning for her new play at Liverpool Playhouse. They tied the knot two years later, both aged 27, and enjoyed a honeymoon in Tuscany before settling down in a cottage in rural Essex.
But Stephen isn't the only one in his family with acting chops - he has three older brothers who are also successful actors. Joseph McGann began his career as Lord Glozelle in the BBC version of Prince Caspian in 1989 and went on to play Charlie Burrow in the long-running ITV sitcom The Upper Hand.
Paul is best known for his lead role in Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor, Doctor Who: Shada, and The Night of the Doctor episode of Dr Who. While Mark is a multi-talented individual who is not only an actor but also a musician, director, and writer, heads up a production company. He's also graced the stage in numerous productions.
Megan Cusack hails from a famous family that includes an Oscar-winning uncle who starred in Disney's The Lion King. The actress has been portraying Nancy Corrigan in Call the Midwife since 2021, when she joined Nonnatus House as a trainee nurse in season 10.
Megan's grandfather, Cyril Cusack, began his acting career at the tender age of seven. His daughter (Megan's aunt), Niamh Cusack, has made many appearances on stage with the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Companies. Niamh became a household name as Dr. Kate Rowan in Heartbeat in the 90s and has also starred in The Tower, Death in Paradise, Silent Witness, New Tricks, among many other roles.
Her sister Sorcha is also an actress and played the titular role in the 1973 Jane Eyre series, portrayed Helen Connor in Coronation Street and featured in the first series of Mrs. Brown's Boys. Sorcha also played Kate Wilson in Casualty and Mrs. McCarthy in Father Brown.
