Call The Midwife's Helen George's split from co-star after 'awful' divorce
BBC's Call the Midwife is back on Christmas Day for the latest special, with the midwives of Nonnatus House preparing to deliver Poplar's Yuletide tots. Entering its 13th year on our screens, the drama has seen stars come and go - however, Helen George has been a cast constant since the show's first series in 2012.
Helen plays fan favourite Nurse Trixie Franklin on the show - however, Helen's life off-screen has proved to be just as dramatic as that of her Call the Midwife character. Last year, Helen split from her co-star Jack Ashton, who played the role of Rev Tom on the show.
The former couple, who share two daughters together, announced their break-up on social media last July, with Helen saying that their children "remain the focus". Writing online, Helen said: "Some months ago, we separated. Our two beautiful girls remain the focus and I respectfully ask for privacy for this next chapter."
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Before Jack, Helen was married to Oliver Boot but they split in 2015. Helen said about her divorce at the time: "Going through a divorce is awful." She added that she was asked to do Strictly shortly after, which she thought would be a "sort of therapy" after the divorce.
She said: "I'd been asked to do Strictly and, strange as it sounds, I thought it would be like a sort of therapy after my divorce. I'd spoken to quite a few people who said how it really helped them through difficult times. You are focused on this one thing, it's an emotional journey. I was so naïve that I thought no-one would be interested in me, so that was a shock. I soon realised I didn't want all that celebrity stuff."
Speaking to The Times about taking on stage show The King and I in November last year, Helen said about her character Anna Leonowens: "She has to make this work. And it's something that I have lived through. I am a single mother who has to be financially responsible for both of my children. There's no man in my life currently, and there's no man in Anna's life. So I thought, this is a perfect match for me, especially now."
Earlier this year, Helen was spotted enjoying a cosy pub lunch with her co-star Olly Rix amid rumours that the pair were dating. Rix recently became single after his relationship with Natasha Fagri ended.
The duo were accompanied by Helen's best friend Ryan Speakman as they enjoyed a Sunday roast at a Kensington pub in March. However, just months later in June, Olly unfollowed Helen on Instagram, with the pair reportedly growing apart over time.
