Call The Midwife actor Daniel Laurie shares an incredible connection with one of EastEnders most legendary actors.
The star, who portrays beloved Reggie Jackson in the BBC One period drama, is the son of Leslie Grantham, who played ‘Dirty’ Den Watts in EastEnders.
Daniel’s first scenes as Reggie aired back in 2017. Following the death of his mum, Reggie travelled to Poplar and now lives with his uncle Fred Buckle, played by another EastEnders legend Cliff Parisi (Minty Peterson).
Daniel’s dad Leslie, of course, is considered soap royalty, having portrayed Dirty Den for two memorable stints in EastEnders.
Den and wife Angie (Anita Dobson) were the original landlords of The Queen Vic, running the iconic boozer from the soap’s inception in 1985.
The character was ‘killed off’ just shy of the soap’s 4th anniversary in February 1989, but made a shocking return in 2003, taking Walford by storm once more.
Leslie was written out of EastEnders in 2005, with Den’s latest wife Chrissie (Tracy Ann Oberman) killing him, for real this time.
The actor died in 2018 at the age of 71.
For the 2025, Call The Midwife is airing a two-part Christmas Special, airing on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with Daniel among the announced cast list.
Call The Midwife Christmas special
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The shows official Instagram posted a trailer back in May, teasing the upcoming two-part Christmas special, while spilling a little tea on what fans can expect:
‘Our forthcoming Christmas Special, set in 1970, will again be in two parts – but this time in two very different locations! The streets of Poplar… and the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong!
‘When senior members of the Nonnatus House staff head to Hong Kong on a mercy mission, the younger midwives are left to cope alone. As the Christmas action shifts between the sun-drenched Far East and a snowy East End, Sister Julienne finds herself excited about the Order’s future…’
Announced cast and characters
- Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne
- Linda Bassett as Nurse Phyllis Crane
- Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan
- Helen George as Nurse Trixie Aylward
- Laura Main as Nurse Shelagh Turner
- Stephen McGann as Dr Patrick Turner
- Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle: Cliff Parisi
- Annabelle Apsion as Violet Buckle
- Zephryn Taitte Cyril Robinson
- Georgie Glen as Miss Millicent Higgins
- Rebecca Gethings as Sister Veronica
- Daniel Laurie as Reggie Jackson
- Renee Bailey as Nurse Joyce Highland
- Natalie Quarry as Nurse Rosalind Clifford
- Molly Vevers as Sister Catherine
- Edward Shaw as Teddy Turner
- Alice Brown as Angela Turner
- April Rae Hoang as May Turner
- Leila Ayad as Diane Edgar
- Christopher Harper as Geoffrey Franklin
- Arthur Devoy as Jonty Aylward
- Fenella Woolgar as Sister Hilda
- Linda Hargreaves as Mrs Wallace
- Max Macmillian as Timothy Turner
- Ines Laimins as Sister Edith
- Ocean On as Yuechan
- Patra Au as Mrs Ma
- Allegra Marland as Dr Watkiss
- Aoife McMahon as Queenie Forsyth
- Jai Day as Major Burr
- Kimmi TsimGrace Cheung
- Thor Lok as Denzil Cheung
- Eisa Latif as Harry Chopra
- Yennis Cheung as Esther Tang
- Max Ho as Christopher Tang
- Dame Vanessa Redgrave as the voice of mature Jennifer Worth
Feature film and prequel series
After some confusion over the series’ fate, fans were left delighted earlier this year to learn that the future is bright for the BBC period drama.
The story will continue in a feature film, which will be set in 1972 in an unknown location, featuring familiar characters from the series.
Meanwhile, the upcoming prequel series will also feature younger versions of fan-favourite midwives.
On the prequel series, executive producer Heidi Thomas said: ‘The Blitz years in the East End were extraordinary – the bombs fell, the babies kept on coming, and the Sisters kept on going.
‘There will be so much in the prequel for our wonderful, loyal fans, including the appearance of some familiar (if much younger!) faces.’
Meanwhile, executive producer Dame Pippa Harris said of the feature film: ‘We have all been delighted by the way audiences have continued to embrace Heidi’s imaginative and moving stories from Nonnatus House.
‘Emboldened by this warmth and enthusiasm, now feels like the right time to expand our world and take our nuns and midwives onto the big screen with our movie, and back in time with the prequel!’
This article was first published on January 8, 2024.
