Call the Midwife star Helen George FRUSTRATED at show’s fluffy reputation

Call the Midwife series nine Trixie (Helen George)
(Image credit: BBC / Neal Street Productions)

Helen says it's so much more than just a fluffy piece of fun

Call the Midwife star Helen George says she’s frustrated that some people still see the series as “just a soft period drama with lots of nice girls with nice hair”.

The hugely popular BBC1 hit, which recently enjoyed its Christmas special, will return for a ninth series in January.

In the past the show has taken on some hugely challenging storylines including one in the last series about illegal backstreet abortions.

However, the 35-year-old star, who plays Trixie Franklin, believes the series continues to be underestimated as a fluffy drama.

“It's very frustrating sometimes! I remember somebody referred to it as 'Mrs Beeton', the Victorian cook, a really nice homely BBC programme, which of course it is. I think that's the brilliant thing about it. We have very hard-hitting issues, but they're wrapped up nicely in this lovely fruit sponge.”

She added: “It also frustrates me because I think people's misconceptions about Call The Midwife put people off the show sometimes. They think, oh, it is just this soft period drama with lots of nice girls with nice hair, and they don't realise that it's actually about women's rights and hard-hitting illnesses.

"It's about life and society nowadays, too. It's about holding a mirror up to our own society. We saw that in the last series with the abortion storyline when the laws were being passed in Ireland. That's why the writing is so great. It is underestimated as this lovely little BBC period drama, and it's not - it's gritty!”

Call the Midwife series nine

Call the Midwife will return in January for its ninth series (Image credit: BBC / Neal Street Productions)

Helen believes it’s crucial Call the Midwife continues to highlight big issues, which often still effect us today.

“If any platform can hold up a mirror to society - be it the news, be it a 16 year-old girl who is campaigning for the environment, be it Call The Midwife - then that's brilliant. We are in such a mess that we need our arts to reflect that. That's really important.”

Christmas TV Guide - Call the Midwife

Call the Midwife enjoyed a magical Christmas special (Image credit: BBC/ Neal St)

Helen went on to tease what viewers can expect from series nine.

“This is a really interesting series because we're focusing on the wider picture. We are looking at London at large. We are exploring the changes that are happening with The Pill, but also with the fashion for having babies in a maternity home rather than at home.

"We are also looking at where the Nonnatus midwives fit into the new modern community and if there is still a place for them - and hopefully there is!”

When does Call the Midwife series 9 begin?

Call the Midwife returns to BBC1 on Sunday 5 January at 8.00pm on BBC1.

David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.


Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 


David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.


Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!