Call The Midwife's Stephen McGann's life off screen with co-star wife and famous brothers
Call the Midwife has made a triumphant return to BBC One, delighting fans with fresh episodes of the beloved period drama.
Stephen McGann has once again stepped into the shoes of Doctor Patrick Turner for his fourteenth series on the show, which has now transitioned into 1970, ushering in a new era for the plot.
The 61 year old actor has been captivating audiences since he first took on the role of the heroic doctor in the inaugural episode back in 2012.
A beacon of hope in the impoverished corner of London, Dr Turner has saved lives, assisted in childbirth, and consistently warmed the hearts of viewers with each episode.
READ MORE: Call the Midwife fans 'confused' after much-loved midwife 'disappears'
Fans of Call the Midwife will remember the poignant moment when Dr. Turner found love with Sheelagh Mannion (played by Laura Main) after becoming a widower at a young age. The couple are now happily raising four children.
However, life hasn't always been smooth sailing for Dr. Turner, as it was revealed that he suffered a mental breakdown in 1945 and spent five months in a psychiatric hospital.
As the BBC drama makes its comeback, let's delve into Stephen's life off-screen as he brings one of television's most cherished doctors back to life for another riveting season of Call the Midwife.
Call the Midwife is inspired by the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth, painting a vivid picture of the heartrending and jubilant stories of midwives and families in East End London.
The BBC period drama was crafted and penned by Heidi Thomas. Since 2012, the 62-year-old has been sharing the heart-touching and occasionally gut-wrenching narratives of the nuns and nurses residing in the east end convent, as well as the stories of Poplar's most impoverished inhabitants during a time when the NHS was a novel idea.
However, off-camera, Stephen and Heidi are a real-life pair. They've been blissfully wedded since 1990 and also have a son named Dominic.
In a chat with Good Housekeeping in November 2020, Heidi confessed that Call the Midwife is the 'sole topic of conversation' in their home, but she never gives her husband an early glimpse at the plotlines.
She stated: "I live with Stephen McGann who plays Dr. Turner because we've been married for 30 years and so he's the character I know best off-screen.
"I never show him scripts or storylines before the other actors see them because I don't think it's fair on him to have to keep secrets.
Heidi added: "He is completely in the dark until he gets that script."
According to Stephen's book titled A History of My Family in Seven Maladies, he met Heidi after auditioning for her new play at Liverpool Playhouse.
They tied the knot two years later, both aged 27, and had a honeymoon in Tuscany before embarking on a new life together in a cottage in rural Essex.
Reflecting on a life-threatening incident involving his wife Heidi Thomas in 2023, Stephen shared with Saga Magazine the traumatic event that left Heidi critically ill with a constricted bowel and advanced sepsis, fighting for her life.
Stephen continued: "The love of my life was nearly taken away and like Scrooge watching Marley's ghost, I was shown an alternative world. I walked the walk of a potential widower with a young child, and then she came back to me."
Attributing the National Health Service (NHS) with providing invaluable support and care during that challenging period, Stephen acknowledged its profound influence on the origin of his hit series, Call the Midwife. "In a spiritual sense, that's when Call the Midwife was born," he reminisced.
"The NHS saved my life as a child and Heidi's life. It's personal to me."
Notably, in 2023, Heidi received an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) honor by King Charles III at Windsor Castle for her contributions to the drama industry.
Stephen is not alone in his family's acting achievements. Hailing from Liverpool, Stephen's three elder brothers, including Joseph McGann, have also accomplished notable careers as actors.
Their breakout roles ranged from portraying Lord Glozelle in the 1989 BBC production of Prince Caspian to starring as Charlie Burrow in ITV's enduring sitcom The Upper Hand.
The 66-year-old has an impressive resume, having appeared in a host of popular TV shows such as All Creatures Great and Small, Dangerfield, Truckers, Vera, Hollyoaks, Casualty, Midsomer Murders, My Family, Doctors and Celebrity Masterchef, among others.
He's also had significant roles in various stage productions.
Paul McGann, aged 65, another of Stephen's older brothers, is no stranger to the small screen either. The TV star is best known for his lead role in Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor, Doctor Who: Shada, and The Night of the Doctor episode of Dr Who.
His other notable roles include Mark North in Luther, John Gaskell in Holby City, with additional TV credits in Moving On, A Mother's Son, New Tricks, Waking the Dead, and many more.
Documentary enthusiasts might also recognise Paul's voice, as he has narrated numerous programmes including Secret History, Churchill's Secret and Wildest Indochina.
Their brother Mark McGann, also an actor, made his professional acting debut with the Everyman Theatre Company, Liverpool, in the early '80s before securing breakthrough TV roles.
In 2021, Mark portrayed Jon Cummins in the real-life series Stephen.
He also played Mad Dog in the series Scully, John Lennon in the film John and Yoko: A Love Story, Detective C. J. Brady in Yellowthread Street, Conor Phelan in The Hanging Gale, and Marcus Bannerman in The Grand. His other television credits include The Bill, Where the Heart Is, Shackleton and Timewatch.
Mark, 63, is a man of many talents - not only is he an actor, but he's also a musician, director, and writer. He heads up a production company and even made a short film called Perplexed Music, which was released in 2018.
He's also trodden the boards in numerous stage productions.
The McGann brothers - Mark, Stephen, Paul and Joe - all starred together in the 1995 British-Irish TV miniseries The Hanging Gale. They also have a sister named Claire.
Call the Midwife can be caught every Sunday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer
