Midwife CRISIS

JENNY AGUTTER on the challenging times awaiting the residents of Nonnatus House

CALL THE MIDWIFE

NEW SUNDAY, 8PM, BBC1 DRAMA

Huge changes lie ahead for our beloved nuns and nurses as the 1960s draw to a close in the 13th series of Call the Midwife.

As the new run of the popular BBC1 period drama begins this week, Poplar marks Easter 1969 with a cute pram parade, while Nonnatus House welcomes two pupil midwives - caring Rosalind Clifford (played by rising star Natalie Quarry) and dedicated Joyce Highland (Mood's Renee Bailey)- who move in as part of a training scheme.

The extra pairs of hands are much-needed, as the eight episodes will see the busy medical team tackle a range of difficult births, along with cases involving conditions such as hip dysplasia, tetanus and tuberculosis, as well as the impact of poor housing.

Meanwhile, emotional personal challenges are on the way, too, and the opening instalment finds compassionate head nun Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) troubled after she helps pregnant Doreen Challis (guest star Rosie Jones), who is living with cerebral palsy.

Here, Jenny, 71, talks to TV Times about the moving storyline...

When Sister Julienne encounters Doreen, she realises she previously met the Challis family during World War Two. Could you tell us a bit more about that?