Actress Rebecca Gethings has shared her poignant reflections on the enduring social issues portrayed in the beloved BBC drama, Call The Midwife. Speaking in a behind-the-scenes feature on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, the star admitted it was a "sad fact" that many of the show's historical struggles are still prevalent in modern society.
A Mirror to Modern Problems
Gethings, who plays Sister Veronica in the long-running series set in London's East End, was interviewed on the BBC One morning show alongside co-star Zephryn Taitte. Reporter Charlotte Gallagher prompted the discussion by noting that the problems faced by characters in the 1950s-70s period drama haven't changed much. "That's a sad fact, isn't it?" Rebecca replied. "Some of the storylines, you know, you think, surely that's behind us. But there's still violence within marriage, houses that are not fit for purpose."
Zephryn Taitte, who portrays Cyril Robinson, expanded on this sobering point. "Abuse of children, poverty, starvation, disease. All these things are still quite relevant," he stated. He emphasised the programme's educational value, highlighting how it has explored these difficult themes throughout its many series since it began in 2012.
Why Audiences Feel Ownership
Also appearing on the segment was Helen George, known for her role as Trixie Franklin. She addressed the show's remarkable and enduring popularity, suggesting viewers feel a deep personal connection. "People feel like they have ownership on the show, I think, because they feel that their heritage is in the show... whether you grew up in Poplar or not," George explained.
She elaborated that the themes resonate across generations. "You know, the themes are themes that our parents, our grandparents, went through, and we are still feeling the repercussions in society from. So, I think people feel as though they have an ownership over it, because it has been their lives or their history." George described the series as an "incredible piece of social history" that audiences must continue to learn from.
Breakfast TV Hosts Show Their Envy
As the segment concluded and the broadcast returned to the main BBC Breakfast studio, presenter Sally Nugent confessed she felt "very jealous" of colleague Charlotte Gallagher for getting to visit the Call The Midwife set. Co-host Jon Kay nodded in agreement as Nugent summed up the show's status, calling it a "such a well-loved programme." The behind-the-scenes peek has built anticipation for the drama's highly anticipated new series.
