Stephen McGann, the beloved actor behind Doctor Patrick Turner in the BBC's long-running period drama Call the Midwife, has humorously confessed to being 'terrified' of his wife and the show's creator, Heidi Thomas, especially when they argue.
Breakfast Table Threats and a New Movie
Appearing on The One Show on Thursday, 15 January 2026, McGann shared insights into the much-anticipated Call the Midwife film and his domestic life. When fellow guest David Baddiel asked if marital rows could lead to grim storylines for his character, McGann jokingly confirmed his fears.
He recounted a breakfast table dispute where Thomas suggested a plot in which Doctor Turner loses a lung. "I am terrified!" McGann exclaimed to hosts Lauren Laverne and Roman Kemp. "She will do it, act in anger!"
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The actor, 62, also shed light on the show's expanding universe. The main series is currently in its fifteenth series, set in 1971, and has been renewed for a sixteenth. Furthermore, fans can look forward to a movie set in 1972 and a prequel series focusing on Nonnatus House during World War II.
"The great thing about a movie is asking people to come along," McGann said, hinting that the film's broader canvas might allow for the return of familiar faces and perhaps new characters.
A Lasting Partnership On and Off Screen
Stephen McGann and Heidi Thomas have been a team for decades. They met in 1988 when he auditioned for one of her plays, married in 1990 at age 27, and have one son, Dominic. Their professional collaboration has seen McGann captivate audiences as the heroic Doctor Turner since the show's first episode in 2012.
Despite his playful 'terror', it's clear their partnership is the bedrock of both a happy marriage and one of the BBC's most cherished dramas. Call the Midwife continues to air on Sundays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
