Laura Main, best known for her role as Nurse Shelagh Turner on the beloved BBC drama Call the Midwife, has revealed that the show's hiatus has allowed her to take on a new role as a carer for her elderly mother. Speaking at the TRIC Awards on Tuesday, the 48-year-old actress shared how the break in filming has given her the opportunity to prioritise her family.
Laura Main's New Priority
“I’m a carer now. Right now, my mum is my priority. She is 91 and needs support,” Main told reporters. She explained that after 15 years of filming Call the Midwife, the change in her schedule has been timely. “Because we aren’t filming a new series, I have the chance to do this, so it’s good timing.”
Main described feeling “blessed” to spend more time with her mother. “Being a carer is an incredible job. We are having such a nice time. We get on so well. It’s lovely. I feel really blessed to be able to give this time to my mum. She gave her life to her family,” she added.
Praise for Carers and the Show's Impact
The actress also paid tribute to Call the Midwife for highlighting the care profession. “On Call the Midwife we’ve represented nurses, midwives and the care community and it’s an extraordinary thing to help one another. My heart goes out to people who are carers for years and years. They should get as much support as possible. They do an incredible service that people need at certain points in their life or throughout their life. It’s about supporting one another,” she said.
Next Steps: Panto and a Prequel
Looking ahead, Main revealed her next job will be panto this Christmas, where she will play Sleeping Beauty. “I love doing that. My sisters said to me: ‘You can’t down tools completely, you’ve got to keep going’,” she admitted.
Meanwhile, Call the Midwife was nominated for Best Drama at the TRIC Awards but lost to Adolescence. The show has been among the BBC’s top five most-watched dramas every year between 2012 and 2026. A prequel series titled Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms, set in Poplar during World War Two, has been announced for a Christmas release. Jenny Agutter returns as Sister Julienne, with Helena Wilson playing a younger version of the character. Amy Booth-Steel takes on the role of Sister Evangelina, formerly played by Pam Ferris, and Helen Schlesinger steps into Judy Parfitt's shoes as Sister Monica Joan. Dr Patrick Turner, made famous by Stephen McGann, is now played by Ben Rose, while Fred Buckle, originally played by Cliff Parisi, is portrayed by Ciaran Bowling.
