Judy Parfitt, known for her iconic role as Sister Monica Joan in Call the Midwife, has opened up about her emotional departure from the beloved BBC drama. The actress, who played the elderly nun for many seasons, admitted she struggles to watch her final scenes.
Emotional Exit in Season 15 Finale
Fans were devastated when Sister Monica Joan passed away peacefully in her bed at Nonnatus House during the season 15 finale. In her closing moments, she was reunited with Sister Evangelina, played by Pam Ferris, who died suddenly in season five from a suspected stroke. The poignant scene left viewers reaching for tissues.
Appearing on ITV's Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on Sunday, 7 June, Parfitt discussed her departure alongside guests Brian Conley, Freddie Fox, Julian Ovenden, and Honeysuckle Weeks. After watching a clip of her character's reunion with Sister Evangelina, Alan Titchmarsh remarked, 'I can't watch that.' Parfitt confessed, 'Neither can I!'
Reflecting on the Scene
Parfitt humorously noted the unflattering lighting in the scene, saying, 'Showing me at my best, I see. Also, I had a cap and it had the thing go round, so all the wrinkles were pushed up. So, you think, "God, do I look as bad as that?" And the top lighting, it looked like the Grand Canyon!'
She also spoke warmly about reuniting with Pam Ferris for the emotional scene. 'It was absolutely wonderful, because Pam left after four years, and we used to sit together quite a lot during the time she was there, swapping recipes and everything. I hadn't seen her, we only phoned a couple of times after she left, and it was so wonderful to do that scene with her. It was like you've found your teammate, sort of like tennis or something, and she was throwing the ball back.'
Missing the Family Atmosphere
Parfitt reflected on her long tenure with the show, describing it as a family. 'We'd seen each other through marriages, births, deaths, divorce — everything. And we helped each other. It was lovely because it was mostly women. Sorry guys, but it was wonderful to be in a show where instead of 13 men and two women — one young one and one old one — you have a show with all these women. There was no jealousy, no rivalry or anything. It was wonderful.'
What's Next for Sister Monica Joan?
Despite her character's death, fans can look forward to more of Sister Monica Joan. The BBC has announced a prequel series titled Sisters in Arms, set during World War II in Poplar amid the London Blitz. Creator and writer Heidi Thomas confirmed that younger versions of Sister Monica Joan, Sister Evangelina, and Sister Julienne (played by Jenny Agutter) will appear. They will be joined by three new young midwives new to the East End.
Call the Midwife is available on BBC iPlayer, and Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh streams on ITVX.
