Delivering MAGIC

LAURA MAIN on the sparkling adventures ahead for the Nonnatus House favourites

- WORDS: CAREN CLARK. PHOTOS: BBC, UK PRODUCTIONS

CALL THE MIDWIFE

PREVIEW COMING SOON, BBC1 DRAMA

The Christmas editions of BBC1's hit period drama Call the Midwife are always a magical mix of comfort and joy - and this year's upcoming two-part special is set to be no exception.

Set at Yuletide 1970, the action will unfold for our favourite midwives and nuns in both a snow-covered London's East End and a sun-drenched Far East as the younger members of the Nonnatus House team are left to juggle their duties alone in Poplar after their senior colleagues head to Hong Kong on a mercy mission.

'We're in two different places and it goes in all sorts of directions. It's like no Christmas special we've had before!' promises Laura Main, who plays caring nurse Shelagh Turner, as she joins TV Times for an exclusive chat.

'But we've still got [newsagent and handyman] Fred Buckle, played by Cliff Parisi, dressed up as Father Christmas and all those lovely elements.'

Here, Laura tells us more...

This year's two-parter sounds wonderful, Laura. What teasers can you share?

We've gone to foreign climes previously, when we went to South Africa [for the 2016 Christmas special], and this time we go to Hong Kong, but the beauty is that we're still having the Poplar Christmas, too. It's incredibly rich with some sad, heartbreaking scenes in both locations, but we have births and new life, plus Poplar like you've never seen it before...

Intriguing!