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TV Choice – Issue 22

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MAKE ME A WINNER: WIN £542,000!

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TV Choice – 28

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TV Choice – 26

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TV Choice – 27

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We Have a Winner!

Pick of the Week

Issues

Death In Paradise

Midsomer Murders

Doctor Who

Entertainment

Seasonal

Call The Midwife

Awards

On the Night

Winners

Soaps

On The Night

Competitions

Latest Competitions

Answers and Winners

Podcasts

Latest Podcast

ceremony-2025

Streaming

Homepage

TV Choice

TV Choice Awards

Midsomer-Murders-main-image-scaled.jpg

Meet the cast of Midsomer Murders!

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Meet the cast of Call The Midwife

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The BIG interview: Doctor Who's Peter Davison

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Meet the cast of Death In Paradise!

Closing date for issue 22 is midnight 9th June 2025. Only one entry per person.


<div class="competition-form">
  <form action="https://competitionform.bauersecure.com/formhandler.php" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" name="competition-form" onsubmit="return validateCompetitionForm()">


        <input type="hidden" name="brand_code" value="CHO" />
        <input type="hidden" name="issue_number" value="CHO2522" />
        <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="web" />


        <fieldset class="competition-form-details">
          <legend>Your Details</legend>
          <div>
            <label for="first_name" required >First name</label>
            <input type="text" id="first_name" name="first_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name fname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="last_name" required >Last name</label>
            <input type="text" id="last_name" name="last_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name lname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="email" required >Email</label>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="email" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="phone">Phone</label>
            <input type="text" id="phone" name="phone" value="" size="40" maxlength="128"  pattern="[0-9 \+]{10,}" autocomplete="tel" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_1" required>Address: Building and street</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_1" name="address_1" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-line1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_2">Address: Area</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_2" name="address_2" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-line2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="city" required >Address: Town or city</label>
            <input type="text" id="city" name="city" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-level2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="state">Address: County</label>
            <input type="text" id="state" name="state" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-level1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="postcode" required >Address: Postcode <sub>(UK: Please include space. ROI: Please enter Eire)</sub></label>
            <input type="text" id="postcode" name="postcode" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required pattern="([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4} [a-zA-Z0-9]{3,4}|[eE][iI][rR][eE]) ?" autocomplete="shipping postal-code"/>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-answers">
          <legend>Competition Answers</legend>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 78</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110003">Prize Crossword</label>
              <input type="text" id="110003" name="110003" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 78</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110052">Su-doku</label>
              <input type="text" id="110052" name="110052" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 80</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="109954">£200 Waitrose Gift Card</label>
              <input type="text" id="109954" name="109954" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-optins">
          <legend>More Competitions, Offers and News</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="brand_opt_in" name="brand_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="brand_opt_in">Opt in to TV Choice Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="group_opt_in" name="group_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="group_opt_in">Opt in to Bauer (publisher of "TV Choice") Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="partner_opt_in" name="partner_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="partner_opt_in">Opt in to Partner Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-legal">
          <legend>Competition Terms & Conditions</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="terms_and_conditions" name="terms_and_conditions" value="accepted" required />
            <label for="terms_and_conditions" required >Tick to confirm that you have read and accepted our <a href="http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html" target="_blank">competition terms and conditions</a></label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter" />
    </form>
</div>


**TV Choice** has teamed up with **Win Happy** to bring you their iconic ‘MAKE ME A WINNER’ competition!

This week you have the chance to win an incredible **£542,000 cash prize**! It’s tax-free cash, and there’s a guaranteed winner every Friday!

Whether you want to clear your mortgage, take the holiday of a lifetime, or set yourself up for the rest of 2025 and beyond, this is your chance to make it happen.  
Entry is quick and easy, using the form below – and every entry has an equal chance of winning.

There's no special phrase or amount to remember, and you don't even have to pick up within five rings.

Simply answer your phone if Gemma Atkinson calls after the competition closes at 5pm on Friday, 11th July, and you will instantly win £542,000, paid directly to your bank account before the end of the day!

This competition closes on Friday, the 11th of July at 5pm. Good luck!

All the terms for this network competition can be found :a[here]{href='https://winhappy.com/campaign/MAKEMEAWINNER?utm_campaign=T&amp;C-page&amp;utm_source=TVC&amp;utm_medium=website' }

Closing date for issue 28 is midnight 21 July 2025. Only one entry per person.


<div class="competition-form">
  <form action="https://competitionform.bauersecure.com/formhandler.php" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" name="competition-form" onsubmit="return validateCompetitionForm()">


        <input type="hidden" name="brand_code" value="CHO" />
        <input type="hidden" name="issue_number" value="CHO2528" />
        <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="web" />


        <fieldset class="competition-form-details">
          <legend>Your Details</legend>
          <div>
            <label for="first_name" required >First name</label>
            <input type="text" id="first_name" name="first_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name fname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="last_name" required >Last name</label>
            <input type="text" id="last_name" name="last_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name lname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="email" required >Email</label>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="email" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="phone">Phone</label>
            <input type="text" id="phone" name="phone" value="" size="40" maxlength="128"  pattern="[0-9 \+]{10,}" autocomplete="tel" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_1" required>Address: Building and street</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_1" name="address_1" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-line1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_2">Address: Area</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_2" name="address_2" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-line2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="city" required >Address: Town or city</label>
            <input type="text" id="city" name="city" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-level2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="state">Address: County</label>
            <input type="text" id="state" name="state" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-level1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="postcode" required >Address: Postcode <sub>(UK: Please include space. ROI: Please enter Eire)</sub></label>
            <input type="text" id="postcode" name="postcode" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required pattern="([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4} [a-zA-Z0-9]{3,4}|[eE][iI][rR][eE]) ?" autocomplete="shipping postal-code"/>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-answers">
          <legend>Competition Answers</legend>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 78</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110009">Prize Crossword</label>
              <input type="text" id="110009" name="110009" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 78</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110058">Su-doku</label>
              <input type="text" id="110058" name="110058" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 80</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="109960">Star Prize</label>
              <input type="text" id="109960" name="109960" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-optins">
          <legend>More Competitions, Offers and News</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="brand_opt_in" name="brand_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="brand_opt_in">Opt in to TV Choice Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="group_opt_in" name="group_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="group_opt_in">Opt in to Bauer (publisher of "TV Choice") Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="partner_opt_in" name="partner_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="partner_opt_in">Opt in to Partner Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-legal">
          <legend>Competition Terms & Conditions</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="terms_and_conditions" name="terms_and_conditions" value="accepted" required />
            <label for="terms_and_conditions" required >Tick to confirm that you have read and accepted our <a href="http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html" target="_blank">competition terms and conditions</a></label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter" />
    </form>
</div>



Closing date for issue 26 is midnight 7 July 2025. Only one entry per person


<div class="competition-form">
  <form action="https://competitionform.bauersecure.com/formhandler.php" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" name="competition-form" onsubmit="return validateCompetitionForm()">


        <input type="hidden" name="brand_code" value="CHO" />
        <input type="hidden" name="issue_number" value="CHO2526" />
        <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="web" />


        <fieldset class="competition-form-details">
          <legend>Your Details</legend>
          <div>
            <label for="first_name" required >First name</label>
            <input type="text" id="first_name" name="first_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name fname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="last_name" required >Last name</label>
            <input type="text" id="last_name" name="last_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name lname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="email" required >Email</label>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="email" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="phone">Phone</label>
            <input type="text" id="phone" name="phone" value="" size="40" maxlength="128"  pattern="[0-9 \+]{10,}" autocomplete="tel" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_1" required>Address: Building and street</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_1" name="address_1" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-line1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_2">Address: Area</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_2" name="address_2" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-line2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="city" required >Address: Town or city</label>
            <input type="text" id="city" name="city" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-level2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="state">Address: County</label>
            <input type="text" id="state" name="state" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-level1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="postcode" required >Address: Postcode <sub>(UK: Please include space. ROI: Please enter Eire)</sub></label>
            <input type="text" id="postcode" name="postcode" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required pattern="([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4} [a-zA-Z0-9]{3,4}|[eE][iI][rR][eE]) ?" autocomplete="shipping postal-code"/>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-answers">
          <legend>Competition Answers</legend>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 78</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110007">Prize Crossword</label>
              <input type="text" id="110007" name="110007" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 78</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110056">Su-doku</label>
              <input type="text" id="110056" name="110056" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 80</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="109958">£200 Sainsbury's gift card</label>
              <input type="text" id="109958" name="109958" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-optins">
          <legend>More Competitions, Offers and News</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="brand_opt_in" name="brand_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="brand_opt_in">Opt in to TV Choice Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="group_opt_in" name="group_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="group_opt_in">Opt in to Bauer (publisher of "TV Choice") Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="partner_opt_in" name="partner_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="partner_opt_in">Opt in to Partner Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-legal">
          <legend>Competition Terms & Conditions</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="terms_and_conditions" name="terms_and_conditions" value="accepted" required />
            <label for="terms_and_conditions" required >Tick to confirm that you have read and accepted our <a href="http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html" target="_blank">competition terms and conditions</a></label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter" />
    </form>
</div>


Closing date for issue 27 is midnight 14 July 2025. Only one entry per person.


<div class="competition-form">
  <form action="https://competitionform.bauersecure.com/formhandler.php" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" name="competition-form" onsubmit="return validateCompetitionForm()">


        <input type="hidden" name="brand_code" value="CHO" />
        <input type="hidden" name="issue_number" value="CHO2527" />
        <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="web" />


        <fieldset class="competition-form-details">
          <legend>Your Details</legend>
          <div>
            <label for="first_name" required >First name</label>
            <input type="text" id="first_name" name="first_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name fname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="last_name" required >Last name</label>
            <input type="text" id="last_name" name="last_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name lname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="email" required >Email</label>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="email" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="phone">Phone</label>
            <input type="text" id="phone" name="phone" value="" size="40" maxlength="128"  pattern="[0-9 \+]{10,}" autocomplete="tel" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_1" required>Address: Building and street</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_1" name="address_1" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-line1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_2">Address: Area</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_2" name="address_2" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-line2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="city" required >Address: Town or city</label>
            <input type="text" id="city" name="city" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-level2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="state">Address: County</label>
            <input type="text" id="state" name="state" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-level1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="postcode" required >Address: Postcode <sub>(UK: Please include space. ROI: Please enter Eire)</sub></label>
            <input type="text" id="postcode" name="postcode" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required pattern="([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4} [a-zA-Z0-9]{3,4}|[eE][iI][rR][eE]) ?" autocomplete="shipping postal-code"/>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-answers">
          <legend>Competition Answers</legend>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 78</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110008">Prize Crossword</label>
              <input type="text" id="110008" name="110008" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 78</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110057">Su-doku</label>
              <input type="text" id="110057" name="110057" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 80</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="109959">Star Prize</label>
              <input type="text" id="109959" name="109959" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-optins">
          <legend>More Competitions, Offers and News</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="brand_opt_in" name="brand_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="brand_opt_in">Opt in to TV Choice Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="group_opt_in" name="group_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="group_opt_in">Opt in to Bauer (publisher of "TV Choice") Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="partner_opt_in" name="partner_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="partner_opt_in">Opt in to Partner Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-legal">
          <legend>Competition Terms & Conditions</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="terms_and_conditions" name="terms_and_conditions" value="accepted" required />
            <label for="terms_and_conditions" required >Tick to confirm that you have read and accepted our <a href="http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html" target="_blank">competition terms and conditions</a></label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter" />
    </form>
</div>



## **We sit down with the showrunner to chat about the new series of Doctor Who, starring Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu…**

**Hello Russell! We’re very excited about the new series!** **The Doctor has a new companion, Belinda Chandra, joining him this year. She’s played by Varada Sethu, who we’ve already seen in a different role in last year’s series, in the episode _Boom_…**

**Russell:** Well, that was so lucky. There’s a history of _Doctor Who_ spotting its stars in previous episodes. It happened with Freema Agyeman \[in 2006\], and many years ago, it happened with Colin Baker, when he appeared as a Gallifreyan guard \[in a 1983 :a[Peter Davison]{href='https://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/tv/doctor-who/the-big-interview-peter-davison/' } adventure\], and then became the Doctor. And even Catherine Tate had a dry run \[in the 2006 Christmas special\], and then we brought her back. I’d already invented Belinda – she was called Belinda Finch back then, just as a placeholder name. It was simply a matter of finding the right actor. We saw a lot of people, but the funny thing was, we were still editing _Boom_, written by lovely :a[Steven Moffat]{href='https://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/tv/doctor-who/the-big-interview-doctor-whos-steven-moffat/' }. When you edit an episode, you watch it about 50 times, if not more. Seriously, that’s how many times! I was sitting here at my desk, and every single time I’d watch Varada, I’d love what she’d done, and I was really sad that I hadn’t got to write for her myself. I was musing on the fact that _Doctor Who_ eats up talents, and stars, and sets, and monsters, and ideas… and then you move right on to the next thing. And suddenly, after 27 other people had auditioned, I sat here in this very office and thought, ‘Oh my God, why don’t we just ask Varada?’ So, I sent an email, and it was like a little chain of explosions going off in the New Year’s sky. It just went, ‘Yes, yes, yes, yes’, all the way up to Disney. Everyone said ‘yes’, right up to the bosses, because we all loved her. It was one of those easy situations where everything just fell into place. Hooray.

**Will you be drawing attention to the fact that Belinda has a doppelganger in the 51st century?**

**Russell:** Yes! There is a little link. I mean, the Doctor clearly recognises her. He’s seen someone with exactly the same face before. He does a little DNA test, and she is indeed a 3000-year distant relative of Mundy Flynn. So, in this world of _Doctor Who_, why is that a coincidence? What’s going on? Is he destined to be with this woman, at this point in time? Events unfold across the series… and we’ll answer that. It’s great. It’s just nice for fans. It gives it a bit of depth. You can tune in quite happily not having seen _Boom_ – although if you haven’t seen _Boom_, go to the iPlayer right now and watch it.

**Russell:** I know you have, darling! I mean, the Choicers out there – the _TV Choice_ readers. Let’s call them Choicers!

**How does Belinda’s arrival change the show’s dynamic? And how does she get on with :a[Ncuti Gatwa]{href='https://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/tv/doctor-who/the-big-interview-doctor-whos-ncuti-gatwa-millie-gibson-and-russell-t-davies/' }’s Doctor? She is a bit older than Ruby Sunday (played by Millie Gibson), isn’t she?**

**Russell:** Yes, she is a little bit older. She’s actually slightly older than Ncuti, I think. Obviously, the Doctor is a billion years old, but nonetheless, she plays as the same age as him, which gives it a slightly different dynamic. I felt that quite naturally, the Doctor became a little bit paternal with Ruby Sunday. It was a great thing we did, casting someone that young, but the consequence of that was the Doctor became slightly paternal. While looking at the second series, I thought, ‘We’ve got the youngest, sexiest, most talented man in the universe – that’s enough paternal, it’s time to let him rip!’ So, we’ve kind of got an equal alongside him. And the tagline to the whole series – as you’ll have seen with the Disney posters – is ‘Get her home!’ It’s a whole series of trying to get Belinda home, because it’s no spoiler to say in the first five minutes of action, she finds herself on an alien planet. And then, it’s not giving away too much to suppose that the Doctor saves her, and would normally take her straight back to Earth, but can’t! He keeps bouncing off the 24th of May 2025 – a real date, that is heading towards us at lightning speed. So, what on earth could have happened on that terrible day? Again, that unfolds over the series. It’s not so heavy that you need to be an expert in _Doctor Who_ to follow it. It’s just a fun link through the episodes, that builds up to a huge, devastating climax, which is very exciting!

**So, we’re guessing that’s also the transmission date for the two-part finale?**

**Russell:** Yes, episode seven goes out on May the 24th. Will we ever reach episode eight? Maybe the world will be destroyed, and the Doctor will die, and there will never be an eighth episode? Maybe it will just be a blank screen for 45 minutes? No spoilers for this one!

**Can you tell us a little bit about the mix of stories?**

**Russell:** I think _Doctor Who_ is at its best when it’s taking wild swings, when every week is staggeringly different – not just a different setting, but practically a different genre. So, episode one this year is a very big space opera romp. It’s literally full of robots and spaceships and space cities, in a way we’ve never quite done before. There’s quite a 1950s design to it – there’s a science-fiction city, with towers and spires and robots and things zinging past in the sky. It’s surprising how little we do that, and that really looks gorgeous. Episode one is called _The Robot Revolution_, with great big monsters with lasers and battles… and Belinda, thrown into the middle of it! That’s the key to it. Then, we go straight from that to Miami in 1952, where a cartoon character has come to life. That episode is called _Lux_, and it’s really gorgeous. Alan Cumming is the voice of Mr Ring-a-Ding, and that’s quite scary! From that, we go to a planet 500,000 years in the future, which is good old-fashioned scary episode, which we didn’t really do last year. We didn’t do a proper scary one. I think _73 Yards_ \[from last year\] was more disturbing than scary, but _The Well_ is proper old horror. And then, off it goes, off it goes! We come back to Earth for episode four, _Lucky Day_, where you see what’s going on in modern-day Earth, with a story based on Ruby Sunday. And then we are at Lagos in 2019 for a very strange and quasi-supernatural episode, _The Story & The Engine_. Then we have _The Interstellar Song Contest_, which is hilarious, and much tougher than you think. Everyone thinks that episode is going to be a camp old laugh, but it’s terrifying, that one! And then we head into a great, big two-part finale – _Wish World_ and _The Reality War_ – the like of which you’ve never seen before, and it’s very exciting.

**We know there are some familiar characters returning. You’ve already mentioned Ruby Sunday, but Melanie Bush (:a[Bonnie Langford]{href='https://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/tv/doctor-who/the-big-interview-doctor-whos-bonnie-langford/' }) is also back, alongside Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) and the rest of the UNIT gang. What does it bring to the show, to see these familiar faces alongside the new?**

**Russell:** It’s great, just seeing them. As an old television fan, I hold very close in my heart that episode of _The Avengers_ where Tara King walks past Emma Peel on the stairs. I think that’s a great moment! I probably watched that when it first transmitted – two of Steed’s companions walking past each other. So, I absolutely had to deliver on this. There are some great big action scenes of the Doctor and Ruby being together. You have to wait for it, but it’s well worth paying off. It’s just lovely. And every year, I love going back to that UNIT team. I simply love working with Jemma Redgrave. She is one of the finest actors in the land. It’s an honour to have her just turning up every year! I think it gives a nice continuity to the Doctor, knowing that there’s always that UNIT base he can go back to, which is slightly different every year. Plus, we have lovely Mel, and Shirley is back too. We missed Shirley last year, because beautiful Ruth Madeley who plays her was busy filming _Nightsleeper_ – that mad old show on a train! Oh, I loved that. Sadly, that meant we didn’t have any Shirley last year, but she’s back, big time. We get three episodes’ worth of Shirley this time, which is lovely. _Doctor Who_ is a show where you can land anywhere, and go anywhere, and do anything, so it’s nice to have some little bits of continuity – things that can bring you down to Earth and say, ‘This is the same show’. And it’s good to develop the Doctor’s relationship with those people. It’s a nice spine to have underneath it all, while allowing for him to run off to another planet a thousand years in the future, where he might die a horrible death!

**Can we talk about some of this series’ brand-new guest stars? You’ve already mentioned Alan Cumming, but there’s Freddie Fox as well…**

**Russell:** Lovely Freddie Fox! We seem to have got the entire cast of _Slow Horses_ coming in, as we also have Kadiff Kirwan and Christopher Chung! That was down to Ben Williams, who directed episode six, _The Interstellar Song Contest_. I had never watched _Slow Horses_, so he said ‘Nonsense!’ and slapped me. And then, there was a long weekend where I watched every single episode, and I realised it’s one of the greatest shows ever made. Suddenly, the stars of that keep popping up everywhere, which is a joy. I’ve always stayed in touch with Freddie Fox ever since I worked with him, 10 years ago, on _Cucumber_ \[Russell’s 2015 Channel 4 drama\]. I think he’s not just a great actor, but a very clever and decent man. I love Freddie, and he’s very dear to me. We’ve always been looking out for the right thing to work with each other, and this came along, so it’s a joy! We also have Charlie Condou from _Coronation Street_, who is an absolutely brilliant talent. He’s so funny in episode four. Not just funny – he gets into some really big dramatic stuff. He’s brilliant. There are lots and lots of other people too, some of whom we haven’t announced yet. Ariyon Bakare is in episode five playing a villain called The Barber, and that’s a terrific guest role. He’s really centre-stage in that. I love him, gorgeous man.

**Someone else who we know is coming back this series is the enigmatic Mrs Flood, played by Anita Dobson. Hopefully there will be some answers about her – but maybe a bit more mystery before we get them?**

**Russell:** Absolutely! I won’t give away Mrs Flood’s first appearance, because it’s very funny. But you will very quickly see her. You won’t have to wait long to meet Mrs Flood. And then she starts popping up at different times and places. I mean, we did that last year with Susan Twist’s character, but she didn’t know who she was. Mrs Flood very much knows who she is, and I can absolutely promise you big reveals when you’re least expecting it. And, oh, it doesn’t disappoint! It’s really glorious to see Anita Dobson grabbing some of these scripts and devouring them. It’s really one of the great joys of my life, actually. I loved seeing her at the Proms. When she walked on stage, the audience loved her. I’ve rarely seen an actor handle a big crowd of 5000 people as well as she did. She owned that room, and that’s a very big room to own. She’s magnificent, and you realise what a classy actor you’ve got there. I absolutely love her. I was as surprised as anyone when she turned up in _EastEnders_ \[during the soap’s 40th anniversary episodes in February\]. She kept that quiet!

**It just goes to show how much more impactful these things can be when you watch without spoilers getting out, doesn’t it?**

**Russell:** Exactly. But it’s hard with _Doctor Who_, because when a programme has been loved this much for over 60 years, there are people who are literally dedicated to spoiling it. We face the situation almost every day, thinking, ‘Do we make everything so secret that it’s almost impossible to work on, and we don’t trust each other? Or do we just shrug and sigh?’ My basic line is, ‘Yes, all right, things might get spoiled for 5,000 people online’. My nieces, who are in their twenties, don’t read that stuff, so most people still get nice surprises, and haven’t been spoiled. We live in a television world, where it’s all the buzz. But that’s actually a very small world, I think. Every time we put our heads in our hands, and we’re really sad that something’s been spoiled, we have to look up, and look at the bigger horizon and say, ‘Actually, it’s fine’. Also, there are still three or four things that have not been spoiled so far, that I’m very excited about.

**As with last year’s series, these new episodes are going onto iPlayer before their BBC1 transmission later that evening. Are you happy about that?**

**Russell:** Yes, like most BBC dramas now, _Doctor Who_ is now going up at 8am. That’s just the way the world works. If anyone would like to come and complain about that, I would offer you a free ride at the TARDIS, back 10 years when those complaints were valid. So, if you’re worried about spoilers, make sure you watch each episode at 8am, as soon as they go up on iPlayer. But OK, fair enough, you might not want to watch at 8am. And some people need to be online, for all sorts of reasons. It’s a very easy thing to say – ‘Don’t go online’. Although, equally, I think a lot of people say they need to be online when they don’t. So, actually, have a word with yourself! If you can’t control yourself, then you’ll be spoiled, and that’s nothing to do with me!

**Can you talk us through some of the monsters we’ll be seeing this year? How satisfying is it when you think, ‘I’ve got a new idea for a _Doctor Who_ monster’?**

**Russell:** It’s great. You always want to vary it. For example, we’ve got Mr Ring-a-Ding this year, who is an animated monster, which I’ve always wanted to do. I wanted to do this back in 2005, but the cost of it was impossible. Believe you me, that’s expensive. Proper hand-drawn animation is possibly one of the most expensive things you can ever try to do on a screen, let alone on a television budget! That’s very, very hard to do, and it’s magnificent. The Frame Store did that for us – a lovely designer called Ian – and it was a great learning process. I had never worked with step-by-step animation before. There were all these stages you have to sign off, and we all learned so much over the whole process. So, you’ll get an animated monster, who is far more frightening than he sounds, actually. I think there’s something odd about cartoons. Mr Ring-a-Ding is based on those Fleischer cartoons from the 1930s. The adventure takes place in 1952, but I can remember seeing Fleischer cartoons in London cinemas in the 1970s. There’s something really creepy about Fleischer cartoons. You can never quite tell who’s a human who isn’t. Look at Betty Boop – that’s the strangest-looking woman in the world, frankly! She’s bizarre. So, Mr Ring-a-Ding taps into that oddness and weirdness. Then, in episode one, you’ve got great big, stunning robots. There’s another creation in that episode as well, which we’re not talking about yet, but one that I actually find quite scary. And in episode four, written by Pete McTighe, there is a good old-fashioned prosthetic monster called the Shreek, really terrifying the pants off you! And then, oh my God, the finale has some great physical creations and some great CGI creations. There’s a really bizarre world called the Bone Palace in the finale. That’s such a strange setting. It’s really quite surreal and weird and unnerving, and I love it! Some of the designs in that are just creepy! There is some really good stuff to come.

**We’re 20 years on from _Doctor Who_’s 2005 comeback, which you masterminded, with Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper. What would your 2005 self make of where _Doctor Who_ is today, if he could have seen into the future? Would he have believed it?**

**Russell:** Never! We never could have imagined still being here in 20 years’ time. You were there, Tom! We all had conversations late into the night at the bar in 2005, at press launches. The most any of us would have dared to think was, ‘What if we’re still here in 10 years’ time?’ Certainly, we were wondering if we would get a second year. We would dreamily talk about five years. Once in a while, if we’d had too much to drink, we’d think, maybe 10 years. But 20? Absolutely never. I don’t think it was ever said, not even as the wildest dream. So, it’s quite astonishing. We decided not to celebrate it particularly, but now we’re here, I’m wondering if I made the right decision. I was very much aware that _Doctor Who_ had had its 60th anniversary \[in 2023\], and before that, it celebrated the 100th anniversary of the BBC \[in 2022\]. But actually, what’s wrong with the party? There is going to be a special extra episode of _Doctor Who: Unleashed_, all about the anniversary. That’s new information for _TV Choice_, actually! There will be a lovely, really well-researched _Unleashed_ episode, which means there will be nine _Unleashed_ episodes in total. There is also going to be a Radio 2 documentary with Jo Whiley. So, we are doing some stuff to celebrate the anniversary. It’s not being completely ignored.

**Do you think your approach to _Doctor Who_ has changed massively over the past 20 years?**

**Russell:** Not massively, to be honest. I think you’re always racing to catch up with _Doctor Who_. And actually, it’s interesting. The world and society keep throwing up new villains. It will be very interesting to talk about that post-transmission. Back in 1963, when the world was staggering, and not even a generation had passed since the end of World War Two, Terry Nation created the Daleks as an analogy for the Nazis. And that’s what the world keeps on doing. Evils keep on rising up. Problems keep on rising up. You keep putting that into the framework of _Doctor Who_. There’s a lot of that this year. That’s a post-transmission conversation, but that’s very much at the forefront. So, yes, I think you’re taking the temperature of the world, and touching on that as you go along. You can’t write any other way, I think.

**Given that it was quite a while back that you filmed most of this series, you must be getting excited about finally having it released, and seeing the reaction to it?**

**Russell:** Well, it’s funny, because we’re still working on it. There are some little digital bits to be done with episode six, and we haven’t quite signed off on episodes seven and episode eight. It’s another month’s work, maybe? No, it’s probably another fortnight’s work to go. So, yeah, it’s nice and busy, and I love it! It doesn’t feel like the past tense at all, because the episodes just feel like they’re all queuing up. You keep them in mind all the time, but it’s almost time to unleash them – literally! It’s very exciting.

**Finally, you’re known for being a massive TV fan yourself, so what else have you been enjoying recently? Give us some recommendations for _TV Choice_ readers!**

**Russell:** I am halfway through _Adolescence_ on Netflix at the moment, which is just amazing. It’s horrifying… and terrifying. What the hell are we doing? It’s five great ideas all piled on top of each other. One of those great ideas would have been enough. One of those cast members would have been enough. It’s an absolutely astonishing piece of work. Jack Thorne \[the co-writer\] is just the king – I adore him and Stephen Graham. So, I loved that. I very much enjoyed the _EastEnders_ 40th anniversary. I thought that was enormous fun. I loved _Black Doves_ at Christmas. I thought that was brilliant. What else am I madly into? I’m an old-fashioned viewer, and I’m still watching _The Apprentice_. I’m still there! It’s so guaranteed to go wrong, that it never goes wrong! It’s the most brilliant thing.

**_Doctor Who_** **returns on BBC iPlayer and BBC1 on Saturday 12 April**

**:a[Tom Spilsbury]{href='https://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/author/tom-spilsbury/' } has been a writer for _TV Choice_ and its sister publication _Total TV Guide_ since 2021. He was previously the longest-serving editor of the official _Doctor Who Magazine_ from 2007 to 2017, and has contributed to the _Doctor Who_ DVD and Blu-ray ranges. His favourite stories include _The War Games_, _The Robots of Death_, _The Five Doctors_, _Partners in Crime_, _The Time of the Doctor_ and _Hell Bent_.**

The BIG Interview: Doctor Who’s Russell T Davies

# Meet the cast of Call The Midwife: Get to know the new and returning characters in series 14

Call The Midwife is now well into its second decade, with over 100 episodes so far. The nurses of Nonnatus House have faced down challenges with grit and good humour over the years — and they've delivered a lot of babies!

We've put together a guide to all of Call The Midwife's main characters, including those who have since left the show, along with the actors who played them.

### **Vanessa Redgrave as the voice of Jennifer Worth**

Jennifer was the main character of Call The Midwife from series 1 to 3, when she was played on-screen by Jessica Raine. After she left Nonnatus House, she married artist Phillip Worth, who encouraged her to write about her work as a nurse — this provided the basis for the show. She continues to serve as narrator for the show with Vanessa Redgrave as her voice.

**What else has Vanessa Redgrave been on?**

A legend of stage and screen, Vanessa is part of an acting dynasty that includes her father, Michael Redgrave, and her daughters Natasha and Joely Richardson. She has received the Triple Crown of Acting — an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and two Emmy Awards — and was made a Dame in 2022. She landed a place in cinema history in 1966 when she starred in Blow-Up, an influential film for directors including Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma and Francis Ford Coppola. Her first of six Oscar nominations thus far came in 1966 for her performance in Morgan: A Suitable Case For Treatment, and she would win for Supporting Actress in 1977 for Julia. She starred in two Merchant Ivory films, The Bostonians (1984) and Howards End (1992), both of which also garnered her Oscar nominations. Alongside her prolific acting career, Vanessa has dedicated her life to political activism, from anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1960s to anti-Iraq War protests in the 2000s, as well as supporting the cause of Palestinian liberation and the rights of refugees.

### **Jenny Agutter plays Sister Julienne**

Sister Julienne is the sister-in-charge at Nonnatus House and manages all the other midwives. She is no-nonsense and steadfast, but she is also a warm figure and is willing to offer comfort to the younger sisters.

Jenny has been a working actor since she starred in East Of Sudan (1964) at the age of 12. She played Roberta in The Railway Children TV show in 1968, and she has returned to this world twice — in the same role in the 1970 film version and the 2022 sequel The Railway Children Return, and as Mother in the 2000 made-for-TV film. Her successful cinematic career continued into the 1970s and onwards, giving her starring roles in films including Walkabout (1971), Logan’s Run (1976) and An American Werewolf In London (1981). More recently, she shared the screen with Bill Nighy in Sometimes Always Never (2018), and Marvel fans may have seen her as a member of the World Security Council in Avengers Assemble (2012) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). Jenny won an Emmy in 1971 for the TV movie The Snow Goose, a BAFTA in 1977 for her supporting role in Equus and even a :a[TV Choice Award]{href='https://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/awards/winners/ceremony-2022/' } in 2022 for Call The Midwife!

### **Judy Parfitt plays Sister Monica Joan**

Sister Monica Joan is the last surviving founder of Nonnatus House, one of the UK’s earliest registered nurses. She retired before the series began, and suffers from dementia, although she remains in good spirits and is well-liked by the younger midwives — even though she has a naughty streak.

Judy’s career began in earnest in the 1960s when she guest-starred in various popular shows, including multiple episodes of The Avengers (1962, 1963, 1967) as different characters. She has acted in adaptations of many great works of British literature, from Pride And Prejudice (1980) to Little Dorrit (2008). She has been BAFTA nominated twice, for The Jewel In The Crown (1984) and Girl With A Pearl Earring (2003). Judy seems to have focused her energies on Call The Midwife since the series began in 2012, although she has found time to guest on series including Vera (2012) and The Game (2015).

### **Helen George plays Nurse Trixie Franklin**

Trixie is a senior nurse and midwife at Nonnatus House. She’s outgoing and fun, and a little boy-crazy — when she broke up with Tom Hereward in series 4, she struggled with alcoholism, and this returned when she broke up with Christopher Dockerill in series 7. In series 10, she met Matthew and Fiona Aylward, which led to friendship and eventually romance with Matthew after Fiona tragically dies. The pair are now married, making Trixie, Lady Aylward. In series 13, Matthew moved to New York, leaving Trixie behind, but in the finale she decided to join him. Trixie is now spending time in New York as well as continuing with her duties at Nonnatus House.

Before joining Call The Midwife in its first season, Helen had smaller roles in shows including Hollyoaks, Hotel Babylon and Doctors. She’s since guest starred in Red Dwarf and DI Ray, and played Miss Shelley in Nativity Rocks! (2018). In 2015, she competed on Strictly Come Dancing, landing in sixth place with partner Aljaž Skorjanec. Helen dated Jack Ashton, who played Reverend Tom Hereward on Call The Midwife, from 2016 to 2023. The pair became close while shooting the 2016 Christmas special and had two daughters together, Wren and Lark, before their split.

### **Laura Main plays Nurse Shelagh Turner**

Gentle and kind Shelagh was known as Sister Bernadette before she decided to leave the order in series 2, when she fell in love with Dr Turner. She is a senior midwife and becomes the manager of Dr Turner’s GP practice. The couple have four children together.

Primarily a theatre actor, Laura has been performing since she was a teenager in her native Aberdeen. More recently, she starred as Fiona in Shrek: The Musical and as M’lynn in Steel Magnolias. Her largest TV role prior to Call The Midwife was as DC Alison Bain on Murder City (2004-2006). Laura has also guest starred on Doctors (2011, 2016), Holby City (2007, 2011) and Father Brown (2014), as well as starring in six episodes of The Mill (2014).

### **Stephen McGann plays Dr Patrick Turner**

Dr Turner is the local GP in Poplar, and he works closely with Nonnatus House as their clinical lead. He is married to Shelagh, and the couple have four children between them — Timothy, Dr Turner’s son with his late wife; Angela, who was adopted; May, who is a fostered orphan from Hong Kong; and Teddy, their biological son.

**What else has Stephen McGann been on?**

Stephen is tied to Call The Midwife in more ways than one, since he’s been married to the show’s creator, Heidi Thomas, since 1991. Stephen played Sean Reynolds on Emmerdale (1999-2002), but his first big success was the show The Hanging Gale (1995), which he co-created with his brother Joe from their own family history. His brother Paul, who also starred in The Hanging Gale, played a different kind of doctor on the BBC — the eighth iteration of the titular Time Lord on Doctor Who. When he’s not acting, Stephen is a passionate medical science communicator, even writing a book covering some of the cases discussed on Call The Midwife.

Fred is the caretaker of Nonnatus House, a role he has held since the end of World War II. While he was in the Army, his wife was killed, and his daughters were looked after by family members. In series 4 he takes an interest in shopkeeper Violet, and the pair are married at the end of the series.

Cliff began his career as a touring stand-up comedian, which he kept up throughout the 1980s until he was cast in Queen Of Hearts (1989). After taking smaller roles in projects including A Bit Of Fry And Laurie (1990), The Saint (1997), Casualty (2000) and From Hell (2001), Cliff was cast as Minty Peterson on EastEnders (2002-2010). More recently, he competed in I’m A Celebrity… in 2019, although his time there was fairly short — he was the third contestant to leave. Cliff thankfully recovered from the hypothermia he suffered while filming the trip to the seaside from the latest series of Call The Midwife and will soon be seen in a guest role on Channel 5’s The Good Ship Murder.

### **Linda Bassett plays Nurse Phyllis Crane**

Initially brought in as temporary cover for Sister Evangelina, Phyllis became a permanent resident of Nonnatus House when Chummy announced her resignation. She’s a forceful character, driven and sometimes stern, but the younger midwives have grown to see her as a mentor.

Linda began her career in community theatre in the 1970s, and her first on-screen role would come in 1987, when she played Gertrude Stein in Waiting For The Moon. She is perhaps best-known for playing matriarch Ella Khan in East Is East (1999), for which she was BAFTA nominated. Supporting roles in comedic British films followed, including The Hours (2002), Calendar Girls (2003) and Kinky Boots (2005). She played Ella Khan again in West Is West (2010), and from 2008 to 2011 she starred as Queenie Turrill on Lark Rise To Candleford. She has worked with Simon Amstell twice — as Grandma on his show Grandma’s House (2010-2012) and as Dr Yasmine Vondenburg in Carnage (2017). In 2022, she starred in the fifth series of Strike and in 2023 she played a supporting role in The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry.

### **Annabelle Apsion plays Violet Buckle**

Formerly Mrs Gee, shop owner Violet fell in love with and married Fred Buckle in series 4. She and Fred look after Reggie Jackson, a child of Fred’s late cousin who has Down’s syndrome. Later, she ran for the local Tower Hamlets Borough Council, and now has become mayor of Poplar.

**What else has Annabelle Apsion been on?**

Annabelle’s first screen credit was on two episodes of Emmerdale as Lucy Dowling (1988). From 1991 to 1995, she starred as Joy Wilton on Soldier Soldier, and she played Margaret Barnes on The Bill from 2004 to 2005. In 2001 she played Polly Nichols, Jack the Ripper’s first victim, in For Hell, which also featured her Call The Midwife co-star Cliff Parisi. Her longest-running starring role before Call The Midwife was as Monica Gallagher on Shameless from 2004 to 2013.

### **Daniel Laurie plays Reggie Jackson**

Reggie becomes the ward of Fred and Violet Buckle after his mother — Fred’s cousin — dies suddenly. He has Down’s syndrome, and lives in a residential facility for young adults with disabilities, though he visits Fred and Violet regularly and considers them his surrogate family.

Before he was cast as Reggie, Daniel played Jamie on the TV show Stella (2016). Since he joined Call The Midwife he has starred in an episode of Vera (2020) and four episodes of Finding Alice (2021).

### **Georgie Glen plays Miss Millicent Higgins**

Millicent is the receptionist at Dr Turner’s surgery. She takes her job very seriously, always wearing formal attire. She’s close with Nurse Phyllis and friendly with the other members of Nonnatus House, having stayed there for a while after her home was burgled in series 11.

Georgie is best known outside of her role on Call The Midwife as history teacher Audrey McFall in Waterloo Road, who she played from 2012-2015. She has played different roles in two adaptations of Les Misérables — in 2012 and 2019 — and has been a lady-in-waiting to Judi Dench in both Mrs Brown (1997) and Shakespeare In Love (1998). She has starred with a fellow Call The Midwife cast member twice — with Jenny Agutter in The Railway Children (2000) and with Linda Bassett in Calendar Girls (2003). Since joining the Call The Midwife cast, she has played Dr Wendy Newstone in Ridley (2022) and Diana’s grandmother Ruth Lady Fermoy in series 4 of The Crown (2020).

### **Zephryn Taitte plays Cyril Robinson**

Cyril was introduced to the midwives when he was called out to fix Phyllis’ car. He met Lucille when she brought him some tea, and the pair got married in series 11. When Lucille suffered a breakdown in series 12, Cyril bought her a ticket to Jamaica to be with her family, and since she left he has dedicated himself to his new career as a social worker. Cyril became close with Rosalind in series 14.

**What else has Zephryn Taitte been on?**

Zephryn has starred in one episode of The Hour (2011), Doctors (2018), Father Brown (2022) and Unforgotten (2023). His biggest role before Call The Midwife was as Dorian in Brothers With No Game, which he played from 2012 to 2018.

### **Megan Cusack plays Nurse Nancy Corrigan**

Early on, Nancy reveals that she had a child when she was only 16 — Colette, who lives first at a Catholic orphanage and then with a foster family, and has been told that Nancy is her sister. Colette becomes her motivation for qualifying as a midwife and earning enough to get them somewhere to live together. In the 2023 Christmas special, their little family was finally united when she and Colette were given their own room at Nonnatus House. In series 14 Nancy got engaged to salesman Roger, and the pair will leave Poplar (and the show) once they're married.

Megan is a member of a performing dynasty — her grandparents are actors Cyril and Maureen Cusack, and her aunts Sinéad, Sorcha, Niamh and Catherine are all actors. Megan’s first cousin is Max Irons, Sinéad’s son with her husband Jeremy Irons. Before she joined the cast of Call The Midwife, she had featured in one episode of Doctors (2018) and on stage in an Irish production of The Cherry Orchard (2020).

### **Rebecca Gethings plays Sister Veronica**

## We found out how Coronation Street star Vicky Myers pulled together her stunning look for the 2025 TV Choice Awards

All the stars looked fabulous at the TV Choice Awards last week, but when we asked you over on our :a[Instagram]{href='https://www.instagram.com/tvchoicemagazine' } for your best-dressed, there was one clear winner: Coronation Street star Vicky Myers, who looked gorgeous in a floor-length cornflower blue gown. We caught up with Vicky to get some details on how this stunning look came together — including where you can buy the dress yourself!

We told Vicky how much our readers loved her look: 'Oh, how lovely,' she said. 'I don’t have a stylist, it’s all high street (last minute), but I’d love to mention my hairdresser Leah and obviously thank the readers very much, and everyone at TV Choice for inviting us. Everyone looked incredible and we had a fantastic night.'

She continued, 'I’m not a great shopper, if truth be told. I get quite bored trying on clothes and would much rather be doing something else — maybe that’ll change in time. I love having my hair and makeup done though — that’s a real treat.'

On her philosophy for getting dressed, Vicky shared 'I like wearing colour and I don’t try too hard — if I like it and if it fits, I’ll wear it. My aim isn’t what other people would think — they’re not wearing it. You have to be comfortable and feel great.'

Her hair was cut by :a[Leah Riley]{href='https://www.instagram.com/leahrileyhair/' } and styled by :a[Kirby Blythe]{href='https://www.instagram.com/hairbykirbyblythe' }, while :a[Sally Rowe]{href='https://www.instagram.com/sallyrowemua/' } did her makeup. Nothing she wore was gifted, and you can even pick up the dress yourself from :a[Phase Eight]{href='https://www.phase-eight.com/product/marren-blue-chiffon-pleated-maxi-dress-222360408.html#q=pleat%20dress&amp;is=true&amp;sz=60&amp;start=0&amp;isSecondPage=false&amp;pid=222360408&amp;pos=11' }! Her shoes and necklace are from John Lewis, the bag is from Mango, the rings are from Paul David Jewellery and the earrings are from Coach.

Vicky Myers shares the details of her best-dressed TV Choice Awards look

## It’s run for close to three decades – but who are all of the show’s main characters, both past and present? {#h-it-s-run-for-more-than-a-quarter-of-a-century-but-who-are-all-of-the-show-s-main-characters-both-past-and-present}

Midsomer Murders has been one of television’s best-loved police dramas for almost 30 years. Having begun in 1997, it’s become one of ITV’s most successful shows, having produced almost 150 episodes. That amounts to an awful lot of murders being committed in one English county! Over the years, there have been two detectives who have led the series – Tom Barnaby, followed by his cousin John Barnaby – who have been ably supported by a host of supporting cast members.

We’ve put together a guide to all of Midsomer Murders’ main characters, including those who have since left the show, complete with information about where else you might have seen the actors…

### Neil Dudgeon plays Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby {#h-neil-dudgeon-plays-detective-chief-inspector-john-barnaby}

**Duration**: Series 13 (guest role), 14 to present

John Barnaby transferred to Midsomer’s Causton CID to replace his cousin, Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) who was retiring. John didn’t get on particularly well with DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes) when he first arrived, but the pair later formed a great partnership. John lives locally with his wife Sarah (Fiona Dolman) and daughter Betty.

Long-time Midsomer Murders viewers may remember that Neil first appeared in the show as an entirely different character. Back in the fourth series’ opening episode Garden Of Death, he played the gardener Daniel Bolt. Neil is also known for playing the lead role of Jim Riley opposite Caroline Quentin in the BBC comedy Life Of Riley between 2009 and 2011. During an acting career which has spanned 40 years, Neil has made appearances in some of the UK’s best known TV shows, including Lovejoy (1991), Casualty (1991), The Bill (1991), A Touch Of Frost (1994), Inspector Morse (1995) and Silent Witness (2008).

### Fiona Dolman plays Sarah Barnaby {#h-fiona-dolman-plays-sarah-barnaby}

Sarah is the wife of John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon), and is the headmistress of a local secondary school, and the couple live together in a country cottage – with their dog Sykes, before the beloved pet sadly died. The couple later adopted a terrier pup named Paddy, after his previous owner was murdered. Sarah fell pregnant during the course of the 16th series, and gave birth to their first child, Betty.

In 2008, Fiona played Miss Pamela Andrews in 48 episodes of The Royal Today – the daytime spin-off series to The Royal. She was also well known for playing Jackie Bradley, the wife of PC Mike Bradley, in the long-running ITV series Heartbeat between 1998 and 2001. She has also appeared in Ultraviolet (1998), The Bill (1997, 2001, 2003 and 2009), Holby City (2003, 2007 and 2009), Coronation Street (2009), Waterloo Road (2010), The Syndicate (2013), Casualty (2016) and Unforgotten (2025).

### Nick Hendrix plays Detective Sergeant Jamie Winter {#h-nick-hendrix-plays-detective-sergeant-jamie-winter}

Jamie is the latest sergeant to be paired with DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon), replacing DS Charlie Nelson (Gwilym Lee). Before moving to Midsomer, Jamie had worked in London, and had gone on a crime management course with Dr Kam Marimore (Manjinder Virk).

Before joining the cast of Midsomer Murders in 2016, Nick had made guest appearances in quite a few British dramas, including Inspector George Gently (2012), Call The Midwife (2013), Lightfields (2013), The White Queen (2013), Foyle’s War (2015) and The Crown (2016). He also appeared in the very first episode of Charlie Brooker’s anthology series Black Mirror back in 2011.

### Annette Badland plays Dr Fleur Perkins {#h-annette-badland-plays-dr-fleur-perkins}

Fleur is the chief forensic pathologist for the county of Midsomer. She has been married several times, and when she first joined the CID she was dating a vet. However, that relationship didn’t last and she is currently single. Fleur owns two motorcycles, which she calls Gladys and Brenda, and she drives a convertible.

**What else has Annette Badland been in?**

Annette’s major breakthrough came in the first three series of Bergerac, where she played Charlotte, the secretary at the Bureau des Étrangers, alongside fellow Midsomer Murders star John Nettles, between 1981 and 1984. In more recent years, she achieved notoriety as wicked Aunt Babe Smith, matriarch of the Carter family in EastEnders – a role she played between 2014 and 2017. She also played Brawdie Henshall in all four series of hairdressing drama Cutting It (2002-2005). Annette has clocked up a huge number of guest appearances in many of the best-known shows on British television, including Crossroads (1978), All Creatures Great And Small (1989), Casualty (various roles between 1990 and 2012), Poirot (2003), Coronation Street (2005), Doctor Who (2005), Not Going Out (2018), The Crown (2020), Silent Witness (2021) and Beyond Paradise (2023).

So, that’s all of Midsomer Murders’ current main cast of characters, but what about the many familiar faces who are no longer appearing in the show? And might we see any of them again in the future? Let’s meet all of the previous cast members…

### John Nettles played Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby {#h-john-nettles-played-detective-chief-inspector-tom-barnaby-nbsp}

The character of Tom Barnaby was originally created by English writer Caroline Graham for her Chief Inspector Barnaby series of novels, published between 1987 and 2004. Having previously worked for MI6, Tom became a DCI based in the town of Causton in south-east England, who travelled into the countryside to solve murders in a number of nearby villages in the county of Midsomer. Barnaby married Joyce (Jane Wymark) back in 1973, and the couple are parents to their adult daughter Cully (Laura Howard), who was born in 1978. Tom had three Detective Sergeants during his time investigating murders in Midsomer – DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey), DS Daniel Scott (John Hopkins) and DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes). When Tom retired, he was succeeded by his cousin John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon).

John Nettles is in the unusual position of having played not one, but two of British television’s most famous detectives! Before he played Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, he became a household name in BBC1’s Jersey-set thriller Bergerac, in which he played Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac between 1981 and 1991. John starred in all 87 episodes of the hugely popular show, and even made an encore appearance as Bergerac in a 1993 episode of Jasper Carrott’s sitcom The Detectives! Earlier in his career, John played Ian McKenzie in A Family At War (1971-1972) and Paul in The Liver Birds (1972-1976). He also made guest appearances in Robin Of Sherwood (1984), Boon (1992) and Heartbeat (2001). In more recent times, he has appeared in several episodes of Poldark (2016-2017) and as the narrator of Devon And Cornwall (2020-2021).

### Jane Wymark played Joyce Barnaby {#h-jane-wymark-played-joyce-barnaby}

Joyce is the long-suffering wife of Tom Barnaby (John Nettles), who is extremely patient with her workaholic husband. She initially wanted them to move out of their home in Causton, and into one of the Midsomer villages. However, she was subsequently put off by all the gruesome murders that seemed to happen there on a regular basis!

Aside from her role in Midsomer Murders, Jane is best known for playing Morwenna Chynoweth Whitworth in the original 1970s version of Poldark (1977). She has also made guest appearances in Maigret (1993), Lovejoy (1993), Pie In The Sky (1996), A Touch Of Frost (1997) and Dangerfield (1998).

### Daniel Casey played Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy {#h-daniel-casey-played-detective-sergeant-gavin-troy}

**Duration**: Series 1-7 (main cast), Series 11 (guest appearance)

DS Gavin Troy was Tom Barnaby’s first assistant. He was an ambitious officer who provided able support for his DCI. However, Gavin was also occasionally seen to be slightly backwards in some of his views, and was a particularly careless driver, being responsible for several near-fatal accidents! After being promoted to the rank of Inspector, Gavin was transferred to Northumbria. He did later return to Midsomer briefly to attend the wedding of Tom’s daughter Cully (Laura Howard).

Besides Midsomer Murders, Daniel is most recognised for playing Anthony Cox in Our Friends In The North (1996), and firefighter Tony Barnes in Steel River Blues (2004). He has made guest appearances in Inspector George Gently (2010), Marchlands (2011), Casualty (2012 and 2014), Coronation Street (2016), EastEnders (2017) and Emmerdale (2018).

### Barry Jackson played Dr George Bullard {#h-barry-jackson-played-dr-george-bullard}

George was the resident pathologist in Causton – a popular and professional doctor, who was respected throughout the community. He was a close friend of Tom Barnaby (John Nettles), and was married to Catherine, a physician at the Midsomer Market Medical Centre.

Barry, who died in 2013 aged 75, enjoyed an incredible career, which took off in the Sixties with roles in Cathy Come Home (1966), The Bofors Gun (1968) and Alfred The Great (1969). He also made his first appearance in Doctor Who in 1965, later returning as a different character in a 1979 storyline. His CV takes in many of British television’s most famous shows, including Z Cars (1962, 1967, 1971 and 1975), Dixon Of Dock Green (1967, 1969 and 1974), Softly Softly: Task Force (1969, 1972 and 1973), Doomwatch (1972), Crown Court (1973, 1976 and 1977), Poldark (1975-1976), The New Avengers (1976), The Onedin Line (1976 and 1978), Secret Army (1977), Blake’s 7 (1978), The Professionals (1978), Coronation Street (1978), All Creatures Great And Small (1980 and 1989), Minder (1984 and 1994), Lovejoy (1986), Bergerac (1990), The Bill (1991, 1996, 2001 and 2003), A Touch Of Frost (1994 and 2002), Heartbeat (1994, 2004 and 2006), Silent Witness (1997), Kavanagh QC (1998) and Holby City (2004).

### Toby Jones played Dr Dan Peterson {#h-toby-jones-played-dr-dan-peterson}

**Duration:** Series 2 (recurring) and 3 (main)

Dan was a pathologist at the Causton CID, who temporarily covered for Dr George Bullard (Barry Jackson) when he was away for a while.

Toby has enjoyed a hugely successful film career, as well as his work for the small screen. His cinema credits include Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Dad’s Army (2016), and Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (2023). He was also the voice of Dobby the House Elf in Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets (2002) and Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010). On television, he recently won huge praise for his role as sub-postmaster Alan Bates in Mr Bates Versus The Post Office (2024). His other credits include Lovejoy (1993), The Last Detective (2007), Doctor Who (2010), Agatha Christie’s Poirot (2010), Titanic (2012), Detectorists (2014-2017 and 2022), Sherlock (2017), and The Long Shadow (2023).

### John Hopkins played Detective Sergeant Daniel Scott {#h-john-hopkins-played-detective-sergeant-daniel-scott}

Daniel replaced DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey), and proved to be a lot cockier than his predecessor. Initially, he was unhappy to be transferred from London to Midsomer, considering it to be ‘out in the sticks’. This caused some tension between him and his superior officer, Tom Barnaby (John Nettles). However, their frosty relationship thawed after a while, with the pair gaining a grudging respect for one another. Daniel left the department quite abruptly, and was replaced by DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes).

After leaving Midsomer Murders, John went on to appear as Rex Randall for a run of episodes in soap opera Family Affairs (2005). He has also guest-starred in Wire In The Blood (2008), Hotel Babylon (2009), Merlin (2010), Dancing On The Edge (2013), Endeavour (2016), Poldark (2017-2018), Masters Of The Air (2024) and Paris Has Fallen (2024). He often provides voices and motion capture performances for video game characters, including Erend in Horizon Zero Dawn.

### Jason Hughes played Detective Sergeant Benjamin Jones {#h-jason-hughes-played-detective-sergeant-benjamin-jones}

**Duration:** Series 9-15 (main role), Series 19 (guest appearance)

Ben became Tom Barnaby’s third junior partner after DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey) and DS Daniel Scott (John Hopkins). Unlike his two predecessors, Ben was initially a uniformed officer, before he was promoted from Detective Constable to Detective Sergeant. When Tom retired, Ben harboured hopes of taking over from him, and was disappointed when Tom’s cousin John (Neil Dudgeon) was appointed instead. However, Ben did later receive a promotion to Inspector, and he was transferred to Brighton.

Welsh-born Jason’s early roles were in London’s Burning (1994), The Bill (1995) and Peak Practice (1995), but he really came to prominence as lawyer Warren Jones in BBC2’s seminal drama This Life (1996-1997, with a reunion in 2007). Since then, he has guest-starred in Waking The Dead (2003), Mine All Mine (2004), :a[Death In Paradise]{href='https://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/tv/death-in-paradise/meet-the-cast-of-death-in-paradise/' } (2017), Three Girls (2017), Marcella (2018) and The Pact (2021).

### Kirsty Dillon played Detective Constable Gail Stephens {#h-kirsty-dillon-played-detective-constable-gail-stephens}

DC Gail Stephens was transferred to Midsomer from Binwell. During her stay, she came close to having an affair with Sergeant Benjamin Jones (Jason Hughes), but she ultimately decided not to get romantically involved with a colleague.

Kirsty appeared in the 2004 BBC drama The Man That Broke Britain. She also has numerous other TV credits to her name, including Holby City (2000, 2010 and 2012), London’s Burning (2002), Casualty (2006 and 2014), Emmerdale (2015), Strike (2018), Man Like Mobeen (2019), MotherFatherSon (2019) and The Kindred (2021).

### Tamzin Malleson played Dr Kate Wilding {#h-tamzin-malleson-played-dr-kate-wilding}

Kate replaced Dr George Bullard (Barry Jackson) as the resident pathologist. Although she has never been married, she started a relationship with DS Benjamin Jones (Jason Hughes) while she was working in Midsomer. She later took up a professorship in Brighton, where she was reunited with Ben, who had already moved there.

**What else has Tamzin Malleson been in?**

Before Midsomer Murders, Tamzin was most recognisable for playing Alison Dangerfield in series three and four of BBC drama Dangerfield (1996-1997). She then went on to play Dr Kate Brady in Always And Everyone (2000-2001) and Penny Nevill in series two to four of Channel 4 comedy Teachers (2002-2004). Between 2004 and 2006, she portrayed Polly Grey in Bodies. She has also guest-starred in A Touch Of Frost (1996), Kavanagh QC (1996), Agatha Christie’s Poirot (2001), Boy Meets Girl (2009), Unforgotten (2015) and Marcella (2018).

### Gwilym Lee played Detective Sergeant Charlie Nelson {#h-gwilym-lee-played-detective-sergeant-charlie-nelson}

See the stars at the TV Choice Awards 2025

**The 2025 TV Choice Awards have finally come to an end, and what a night it’s been!**

  
A dazzling celebration of glitz, glamour, and memorable moments. The stars have truly shined, the excitement has been electric, and now, the time has come to reveal who’s taken home the coveted prizes.

Let’s not keep you waiting any longer, the winners are...

Latest on TV Choice

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