Call the Midwife star confirms return to hit BBC show – after reprising villainous soap role
A CALL the Midwife star has revealed his imminent return to the BBC period drama.
Fans recently saw this beloved character during Call the Midwife's 2024 Christmas Special.
Chris Harper revealed he is set to reappear as Geoffrey Franklin, who returns to see sister Trixie (Helen George).
Speaking to us in an exclusive interview, Chris shared: "I'm hoping very soon Geoffrey from Call the Midwife will be making his return to Poplar.
“The series that's on telly at the moment, I will be appearing again at the back end of. Which I absolutely love doing.
“They talk about a family atmosphere. That's the cast and crew of Call the Midwife, [it] is just a joy to be part of.”
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He added: “And I love playing that character because he's such a fixer.
"He's a lovely guy, but he also comes in and helps people. So he's the absolute polar opposite of Nathan [Curtis]."
As Chris alluded to, he is also well-known as soap villain Nathan Curtis in Coronation Street.
His nefarious character groomed and sexually abused Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon), in a dramatic storyline which saw Nathan later jailed.
Since leaving Corrie in 2017, he has reappeared multiple times including last year when Bethany learned Nathan had been released from prison.
Chris told how he’s glad his Call the Midwife character Geoffrey is so different to Nathan Curtis.
He shared: “You kind of assume the TV industry talks to each other or talks to itself internally.
"And it's not at all like all of my work with them on BBC with Call the Midwife. You know, I'm not even sure they even knew I'd done a stint in Corrie in the meantime.
“So he is a completely different character. And when I get spotted in the street. I definitely inherited niceness.
“There's people who know that Geoffrey from Call the Midwife is lovely. So I think they just assume I am. And so I benefit from that.
Call The Midwife: A breakdown
Call The Midwife first came onto the airwaves in 2012 and has been seen by millions. But what is it about?
Series one: Set in early 1957 and it explored the 'Baby Boom generation, which included themes of poverty and post-war immigration.
Series two: Set in 1958 and it showed gas and air being introduced for pain relief for the first time. It ended with the Nonnatus House building being condemned.
Series three: Set in 1959 and it depicted gruesome conditions such as cystic fibrosis, polio and it showed the midwives in the context on prisons.
Series four: Set in 1960 under the threat of nuclear warfare and the emergency response guidelines issued by the local Civil Defence Corp. Other themes included LGBT rights, and syphilis.
Series five: Set in 1961 and it shows the care of patients with conditions such as Typhoid and strokes. We also saw the effects of thalidomide, the introduction of the contraceptive pill.
Series six: Set in 1962 and domestic violence was at the centre of the season. Other themes included FGM (female genital mutilation), mental health issues and interracial marriage. It was also notable for the introduction of Reggie, a recurring character with Down Syndrome.
Series seven: Set in 1963 and we see Nurse Lucille Anderson for the first time. We also see the show address conditions such as dementia, huntington's disease, leprosy and meningitis
Series eight: Set in 1964 and it bravely covered the issue of abortion, which was not legal for another three years in 1967. Sickle cell disease, cleft lip, cleft palate and intersex people also featured.
Series nine: Diptheria was at the centre of the ninth instalment in 1965, and it was notable for featuring a blind expectant mother. But the role of Nonnatus House within the community also came into question.
Series ten: Set in 1966, Nonnatus House has a rival in the form of the private Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair. PKU, diabetes and the controversy surrounding abortion were central themes.
Series eleven: Set in 1967 amid the housing crisis and a scabies epidemic. The show was rocked by a train crash right next to Nonnatus House.
"Nobody's ever met me on the street and assumed I'm like Nathan."
Away from his screen roles, Chris has also worked extensively with charities including the NSPCC.
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He recently supported their "Number Day" initiative - aimed at getting primary school children interested in maths - which took place on February 7.
Coronation Street airs on ITV1 and ITVX. Call the Midwife airs on BBC One and iPlayer.