BUCKLES under pressure

CLIFF PARISI and ANNABELLE APSION on Fred and Violet’s challenging new storyline

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CALL THE MIDWIFE SUNDAY, 8PM, BBC1 DRAMA

The warm relationship between kindly handyman-turned-newsagent Fred Buckle and his caring but frequently exasperated haberdasher wife, Violet, has become one of the cornerstones of Call the Midwife.

‘Viewers seem to love the affection they have for each other,’ beams Cliff Parisi, who has portrayed Fred since the BBC1 drama began in 2012, as TV Times catches up with him and Annabelle Apsion, who joined the cast as Violet in 2015, for an exclusive video chat.

‘It’s lovely playing people who do good and good happens to them,’ adds Annabelle. ‘Although life isn’t always a bed of roses…’

That is certainly true as Series 13 continues, with this week’s episode finding the Buckles tested like never before. While local councillor Violet is campaigning to become mayor of Tower Hamlets, her political ambitions are thrown into turmoil when Fred falls ill with tetanus after cutting his hand as he renovates a patch of waste ground for the community.

Here, Cliff and Annabelle, both 63, tell us what to expect…

So, why does Violet want to run for mayor?

ANNABELLE It frustrates her when she can see what could benefit people and it’s not being done. She thinks, ‘I could do a better job.’ I’d definitely vote for Violet, and even distribute leaflets for her!