Call the Midwife is set to return with two Christmas specials and then a 14th series in the new year, where young actor Daniel Laurie will reprise he role as Reggie Jackson
BBC Breakfast: Laura Main talks about Call The Midwife Xmas special
Call the Midwife is set to return with two festive specials, followed by the 14th series in the new year. Daniel Laurie will be reprising his role as Reggie Jackson in this beloved BBC period drama.
Reggie, a character known for his kindness, first graced our screens in Poplar during the sixth series in 2017. His mother tragically passed away from a heart attack while visiting a church, leaving Reggie waiting for her at home in scenes that tugged at our heartstrings.
The compassionate nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House swiftly stepped in to care for Reggie until his distant cousin Fred Buckle (played by Cliff Parisi) took him under his wing. Violet Buckle (portrayed by Annabelle Apsion) and Fred now consider Reggie as their own son.
Given that Reggie has Down syndrome, he was offered a permanent spot at the Glasshouse Trust, a facility catering to young adults with disabilities. He frequently visits his family and friends in the East End.
However, outside the realm of this period drama, Daniel boasts a famous father and has also made appearances in other popular TV shows. Here’s everything you need to know about the TV star as Call the Midwife makes its comeback.
Born in 1995, Daniel is currently 29 years old. In his late teens, he attended a drama school in London. However, he revealed that he had to leave education due to bullying before he found fame on the BBC period drama.
He opened up about his battles with bullies, which led him to leave school and find comfort in launching an acting career at the tender age of 17.
In a candid chat with The Mirror in 2022, Daniel confessed: “I hated school. I was badly bullied and that made me walk out of school, but because of that, acting found me when I was 17.”
He further added: “I can’t forgive myself for walking out but because of [show creator] Heidi Thomas I have bonded and made friends with the cast. If it wasn’t for Call The Midwife, where else would I be?
“The whole entire show is run by women and I actually love being in Call The Midwife because of them, they make the show what it is. It’s a fantastic show. I love being in the show. We have all been bonded.”
Interestingly, acting seems to be in Daniel’s blood as he is the son of late actor and EastEnders legend Leslie Grantham.
Grantham, who played ‘Dirty’ Den Watts in the BBC soap, was an original cast member when the soap launched in 1985, before his character was killed off in 1989. He then made a dramatic return to EastEnders in 2003 for two more years in a thrilling comeback storyline.
In a 2006 interview with the Daily Mail, Daniel’s mum Jane lauded Leslie as a “fantastic” dad. She reminisced: “When he was just a few days old, Leslie looked down at the baby and said ‘you know, there are some hard things in life, but this isn’t one of them’.”
Sadly, Grantham passed away in 2018, leaving behind his three sons and ex-wife. Actor Cliff Parisi had the opportunity to work alongside Grantham during their time in EastEnders together before working closely with his real-life son Daniel in Call the Midwife.
Daniel’s significant break into major roles came in 2016 when he landed the part of Jamie in Sky One’s comedy-drama Stella, sharing screen space with Gavin and Stacey’s Ruth Jones, the creative genius behind the show.
His career trajectory soared further with a role as Adam Beecher in an episode of ITV’s Vera in 2020 and his portrayal of Sheemie in The Dark Tower.
In 2021, Daniel embraced the character of Zach in ITV’s drama Finding Alice, starring alongside TV favourites Keeley Hawes, Nigel Havers, and Joanna Lumley.
Daniel is all set to reprise his role as Reggie Jackson in Call the Midwife this Christmas, which will be broadcast on BBC One on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Following this, season 14 is slated for release in the new year, featuring 8 hour-long episodes. The show’s creators have confirmed that season 15 of the series is also in the pipeline, expected to air in 2026.