- Radio Times
- Review by:
- Alison Graham
There are fears to be faced and there are times to be brave in a particularly sad episode of Heidi Thomas’s hit drama. Loneliness has to be confronted, too, when we learn a little bit more about mousy, unnaturally quiet Jane (Dorothy Atkinson), the new arrival at Nonnatus House. Jane’s life has been wreathed in sadness but there could be a glint of romantic sunlight on the horizon.
Jenny (Jessica Raine) has complicated feelings when she attends a birth with a difficult outcome and lets her professional mask slip. Trust the shrewd, wise Sister Evangelina (Pam Ferris) to pinpoint Jenny’s feelings of
guilt as the young midwife spends just a bit too much time helping out the family that feels it’s been torn asunder: “We only deliver the babies, we don’t bring them up as well.”
About this programme
4/8. Jenny returns from her stint at the London Hospital and heads straight into one of the most emotive cases of her career when she and Sister Evangelina assist at the birth of a baby with spina bifida. As the parents struggle to come to terms with their son's life-limiting condition, Jenny, who has never delivered a disabled child, also fails to comprehend the far-reaching implications for the family. Meanwhile, Nonnatus House plays host to an acquaintance of Chummy - the Rev Applebee Thornton, an eccentric cleric who befriends Jane. Jessica Raine, Pam Ferris and Dorothy Atkinson star, with a guest appearance by Jason Watkins (Trollied).
Cast and crew
Cast
- Jenny Lee
- Jessica Raine
- Sister Julienne
- Jenny Agutter
- Sister Evangelina
- Pam Ferris
- Sister Monica Joan
- Judy Parfitt
- Trixie Franklin
- Helen George
- Cynthia Miller
- Bryony Hannah
- Sister Bernadette
- Laura Main
- Dr Turner
- Stephen McGann
- Fred
- Cliff Parisi
- Douglas Roberts
- Jamie Thomas King
- Timothy Turner
- Max Macmillan
- Jane Sutton
- Dorothy Atkinson
- Joyce
- Jennifer Aries
- Ruby Roberts
- Leanne Rowe
- Rev Applebee-Thornton
- Jason Watkins
- Mr Giddings
- Trevor Martin
- Mrs Giddings
- Margaret Stallard
- Flora
- Kelsey Gallagher
- Mrs Peacock
- Susan Brown
- Jacob
- Colin Young
- Voice of mature Jenny
- Vanessa Redgrave
Crew
- Director
- Roger Goldby
- Producer
- Hugh Warren
- Writer
- Mark Catley
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