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Virgin Radio
8 Jan 2024, 10:34
Credit: BBC
Call the Midwife series 13’s first episode had fans in floods of tears on Sunday evening.
While all were delighted to see the show back on TV screens for another year, yesterday (7th January)’s opening episode’s moving story featuring guest star Rosie Jones had fans extra emotional.
The series premiere saw the comedian and actress play the role of Doreen Challis, a pregnant woman with cerebral palsy whose pregnancy and arrival at Nonnatus House’s clinic brought up troubled memories for Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter), and opened up a discussion in the show about cerebral palsy and disability as a whole.
“I would like to thank @CallTheMidwife for showing a storyline of a person with #cerebralpalsy with such empathy and sensitivity. Give [Rosie Jones] a #BAFTA now!” one viewer wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after the episode had aired. “I find it hard to stem the tears. So proud of you all!” they added.
Other fans hailed the show’s “powerful” as well as “sensitive” handling of the lead storyline. “I hope it enlightens and engenders some conversations about cerebral palsy,” another viewer commented after the episode.
Meanwhile, many viewers admitted the show had made them tearful. “#CallTheMidwife knows how to have me in tears,” shared one person on social media. “[Rosie Jones] doing an amazing job, proper pulling at the heartstrings” another viewer posted during the episode.
Viewers also praised the arrival of two new lead cast members Renee Bailey and Natalie Quarry as student midwives Joyce Highland and Rosalind Clifford respectively. “So in love with them already,” shared one viewer. “I absolutely love Renee Bailey,” shared another, as a third chimed in: “I adore the new midwives.”
Meanwhile a fourth person joked about the episode’s intense final act, which involved a shootout taking place at the same address as a delivery. “Natalie Quarry wasn’t wrong when she said this would be dramatic!” they said.
But as well as celebrating the returning cast, many viewers found the episode had them feeling nostalgic for former characters who’ve now left the show. The arrival of the new midwives “makes me miss Jenny, Patsy, Chummy, Valerie, Barbara and the rest of the old cast who have left,” one viewer wrote.
Thankfully, it appears this nostalgia isn't affecting overall opinion on the new season, as the new cast's characters seem to be delighting viewers just as previous characters did in the past.
Call the Midwife continues every Sunday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 8pm.
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