Call the Midwife actor Chris Harper is married to a famous actress who has starred in Emmerdale and EastEnders, and fans will be stunned.
The 48-year-old actor made his debut as Geoffrey Franklin in series 12 of the BBC One period drama, arriving in Poplar from Malta to attend his sister Trixie's (Helen George) wedding to Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix). The character proved an instant hit with audiences, who warmed to him within moments of his first appearance, and Geoffrey has remained a series regular ever since. He last featured in series 15 of Call the Midwife, which was broadcast earlier this year, with supporters hoping Geoffrey will feature in both the upcoming film adaptation and series 16 of the beloved drama.
Coronation Street enthusiasts will recognise actor Chris Harper as Nathan Curtis, who appeared on the ITV soap between 2016 and 2018. He first arrived on Christmas Day as Shona's (Julia Goulding) former boyfriend and quickly established himself as a thoroughly unpleasant character. He befriended 16-year-old Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon), subsequently earning her trust before exploiting her vulnerability. He was ultimately imprisoned for disturbing crimes against Bethany, only to resurface seven years later. Chris briefly returned to the role of villainous Nathan in 2024 following his character's release from prison. Bethany accused him of abducting Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton), before the true perpetrator was exposed as Joel Deering (Calum Lill). This marked the conclusion of Christopher's stint on the Manchester-based soap, though he has also appeared in Upstairs, Downstairs, Life on Mars and the Bafta-winning Housewife 49.
Who is Chris Harper's wife?
Chris has been married to fellow television star Emily Bowker since 2013, and she also appeared in one episode of Call the Midwife. In 2017, she took on the role of expectant mother Dot Spenlow, a character grappling with financial hardship, which led her to enter into a heart-wrenching arrangement with her cousin. EastEnders viewers will remember the actress as Jemima Benjamin, an interfering consultant brought in to interview Dot Cotton (June Brown) for a position at the newly renovated launderette. The scenes, which aired in 2016, sparked fury amongst fans when Dot failed to secure her cherished job back due to Jemima's relentless use of corporate jargon, leaving the beloved character baffled.
Emily has also enjoyed brief appearances in rival soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Her extensive credits include roles in Australian soap Neighbours, a part alongside her now-husband in Upstairs Downstairs, and numerous beloved British programmes, ranging from The Bill to Holby City and Torchwood. Most recently, Emily played Maddie in Whitstable Pearl (2022) and Lady Fallon in Miss Scarlet (2024).
Call the Midwife is available to stream on BBC iPlayer, while Coronation Street airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX.
