Real-Life Loves
A Deep Dive Into the ‘Call the Midwife’ Cast’s Real-Life Loves
Call the Midwife has been a beloved PBS staple for over a decade. Viewers have become invested in the nurses, midwives and nuns from Nonnatus House. Cast members have come and gone, but once you’re part of the Call the Midwife family, you’re a member forever.
The period drama set in the Poplar district of East End appeals to crowds young and old. With the Season 14 premiere date on the horizon, Swooon is doing a deep dive into the romantic lives of the Call the Midwife cast!
Call the Midwife, Season 14 Premiere, March 30, 8/7c, PBS
Stephen McGann & Heidi Thomas
Stephen McGann isn’t just one of the main characters — Dr. Patrick Turner — of Call the Midwife, he lives and breathes the series. He’s married to creator Heidi Thomas!
While talking to Good Housekeeping, Thomas shared that the show is the “sole topic of conversation” in their family, but that doesn’t mean he gets any advantages.
“I never show him scripts or storylines before the other actors see them because I don’t think it’s fair on him to have to keep secrets,” Thomas said. “He is completely in the dark until he gets that script.”
They said “I do” 1990 and have one son, Dominic.
Jenny Agutter
Married since 1990, Jenny Agutter and her husband, Johan Tham, will be celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in 2025. The two split their time between London and Cornwall. They have one son, Jonathan.
While Agutter is an actor (and plays Sister Julienne on Call the Midwife), Tham works in the hotel industry. Upon meeting, she liked that he didn’t have a background in media. “One of the things about meeting people and forming relationships as an actor is that others have an idea of who you are before they meet you. That’s hard in any relationship, particularly with men,” she revealed to Daily Mail.
She added, “When John and I met I did not feel he had any sense of who I was at all, but he wanted to find out, and that made a big difference. I’m still finding out about him 31 years on.”
Laura Main
Laura Main, who plays Shelagh Turner, loves her profession but isn’t too fond of the public part of it. The Scottish-born actor tries to keep as much of her life private. The only boyfriend of Main that her fans knew about was Stephen McGlynn, a theater actor. They were together from 2012 to 2017. It’s unknown whether she is dating anyone now.
Helen George
Crossing paths on Call the Midwife, Helen George (Nurse Trixie Franklin) and Jack Ashton (Rev. Tom Hereward) fell in love. After being in a relationship for seven years, the couple separated in 2023. They have two children together: Wren Ivy and Lark.
Although they shared the screen for many years, Ashton is no longer on the series. They are, however, still cordial as they coparent.
George was previously married to fellow actor Oliver Boot. They divorced in 2015.
Natalie Quarry
Bopping around the world together, Natalie Quarry, who plays Rosalind Clifford, isn’t exactly keeping her relationship with Lewis Thorne a secret. He often makes an appearance on her social media accounts as her date or travel partner.
Renee Bailey
Renee Bailey has been one of the most exciting additions to Call the Midwife. With her Season 13 debut as Joyce Highland, we can’t wait to see what happens next with her.
Still pretty new to the industry, not much is known about her love life. Often sharing personal snapshots on her social media, it appears that she is currently single.
Rebecca Gethings
The first line of Rebecca Gethings‘ Instagram bio reads, “Mum, actress, writer, dettol wiper.” However, the actress, who plays Sister Veronica, is private about her personal life. She occasionally post tidbits of a man she refers to as the “daddy” of her children, but she prefers to keep more details out of the spotlight.
Judy Parfitt
Meeting her husband, Tony Steedman, in 1960, the two remained in love until his death in 2001. Opening up about her partnership with Steedman with Daily Mail, Judy Parfitt (Sister Monica Joan) said, “While both of us were very busy, at home it was a very traditional marriage. I enjoyed cooking and ironing his shirts for him. He loved to be my sous chef, chopping the vegetables while I made dinner.”
She continued, “He enjoyed accompanying me to the supermarket, pushing my trolley — but it wasn’t to help me so much as he loved the opportunity to chat and joke with the other shoppers.” Their son, David, was born in 1964.
Molly Vevers
Another person in the young batch of actors on Call the Midwife, Molly Vevers still lives in somewhat of anonymity. Her current relationship status is unclear. Vevers joins the cast as Sister Catherine in Season 14.
Linda Bassett
Previously married to journalist Julian Foster for over a decade, Linda Bassett and Foster have since parted ways. Neither party has ever spoken about their separation. The 75-year-old, who plays Nurse Phyllis Crane, has not disclosed any other partners besides her ex-husband.
Cliff Parisi
Comedian and actor Cliff Parisi is a fan-favorite character on the hit series as Fred Buckle, making everyone intrigued about his personal life. Yet, the performer doesn’t love to give too much away. He’s been married to BBC producer Tara Wyer since 2010. They have one son together, Arthur. Parisi also has three other kids from previous relationships: Mandy, Dean, and Jack.
Anabelle Apsion
It’s unclear whether Anabelle Apsion, who plays Violet Buckle, is currently in a relationship. The actor does not like to divulge about private topics with the public.
Daniel Laurie
Daniel Laurie is the son of British soap star Leslie Grantham. Having lived his life surrounded by a recognizable dad, he was thrilled to join Call the Midwife as Reggie Jackson in 2017. Not much is known about his personal life.
Zephryn Taitte
Zephryn Taitte, who plays Cyril Robinson, tries to maintain a private life, not sharing anything besides professional obligations. The actor doesn’t let any of his fans see into his personal life. It’s unclear whether or not he has a partner.
Charlotte Ritchie
Charlotte Ritchie, who played Nurse Barbara in Seasons 4 through 7, keeps a low profile when it comes to her relationship status. It’s unknown whether she is dating anyone in 2025. While she’s not on Call the Midwife at the moment, she will reprise her role as Kate in the final season of You this spring!
