‘Even I watch Call the Midwife AT CHRISTMAS!'

Much loved TV star Jenny Agutter reveals why the festive period is so special to her

- Vicki Power

Christmas is all about a special birth, and Jenny Agutter has her own special delivery to celebrate each year – she gave birth to her only child, Jonathan, on 25 December 1990.

‘It’s hard to measure anything else up against that as a gift,’ chuckles Jenny, who turns 67 on 20 December.

The memory of it, she says, is as fresh today as when it happened nearly three decades ago.

Like all the best Christmas presents, says Jenny, her baby’s arrival was a total surprise. ‘He was six weeks early. I went into labour, or what I thought was labour, early on Christmas Day. It was a long day! It got to 10pm and the baby wasn’t born yet and the obstetrician said, “We may need forceps.” I wasn’t keen until my sister-in-law said, “If this doesn’t happen now, he’ll be born on Boxing Day,” and I thought, “No! I want him born at Christmas. Get the forceps!” When he arrived, it was amazing.’

Jonathan, who got married this year, continues to make his mum and dad – Jenny’s husband Johan Tham, a Swedish hotelier – proud as a junior doctor.

Of course, the other reason the 25th is special to Jenny is that she joins the nation every Christmas night to watch Call the Midwife, one of the most eagerly anticipated holiday specials of the year. This year marks the eighth special.