Call the Midwife writer Heidi Thomas and star Stephen McGann reveal show secrets for charity
Call the Midwife writer Heidi Thomas and her husband, actor Stephen McGann, who plays Dr Turner in the much-loved BBC drama, were at Little St Mary’s Church (LSM) in Cambridge last Saturday (October 14) giving an illustrated talk on the series, in aid of Cambridge charities Whitworth House and Camtrust.
The entertaining presentation included insights into what goes on behind the scenes, how certain storylines came about, and how some of the special effects are created.
All of the money raised from the ticketed event will go to Whitworth House, a hostel that protects vulnerable women and victims of domestic abuse in Cambridge, and Camtrust, a charity specialising in life skills for adults with physical disabilities and learning difficulties.
Coffee, tea and cake were served afterwards and Heidi spoke to the Cambridge Independent about these two “smashing local causes”.
She said: “The thing about Cambridge is it can be a city with a lot of people passing through, and you get lots of academics, or people working in science, who maybe don’t stay very long – and a lot of those people come to LSM, so it’s very important, we feel, that while people are with us at LSM, we can connect through to the wider community.”
Stephen McGann, one of four brothers who are all actors, added: “It was Heidi who was the inspiration behind this.
“We’ve lived in the Cambridge area for many years and underneath the surface of Cambridge, all the normal human struggles take place amongst the very Town and Gown thing – my son himself now is at Oxford, so the university life is a part of our lives as well.
“We’ve always adored Cambridge but underneath the surface there are human problems, human difficulties and we’ve always wanted to be involved in community, just like in our programme.
“So as part of that, in our local area – very rarely because we’re so busy – we get the chance to do something which then feeds back into good charitable causes, like these.
“Most of all, for me and Heidi, it was about doing something local and sharing a lot of what we know and love with them.”
For more information on Whitworth House, visit bit.ly/3M4Sr98. For more on Camtrust, go to camtrust.co.uk.
