BBC One’s beloved drama Call the Midwife has recently broadcast an episode that saw Trixie Aylward, portrayed by Helen George, stepping up to fill in for Nurse Phyllis Crane, played by Linda Bassett. The nuns and midwives of Nonnatus House found themselves in a bind as local bin men went on strike, leading to unsightly rubbish heaps outside their premises, which soon attracted rats and sparked an outbreak of Weil’s Disease.
This illness affected some cherished characters, including Nigel the cat and Rosalind Clifford, acted by Natalie Quarry.
Nurse Crane’s absence was keenly felt at Nonnatus House, where she is known as the linchpin, adeptly coordinating the midwives and their daily tasks. Trixie briefly mentioned that Nurse Crane was off enjoying a “Devonshire break” offering some reassurance to concerned viewers.
Fans need not worry about her absence, as it seems she’s merely taking a well-deserved vacation and is expected to return to her duties in a forthcoming episode.
However, this isn’t the first instance of fans expressing anxiety over Nurse Crane’s wellbeing. Some have speculated that she may be showing early signs of dementia, particularly after an episode where she struggled to recall the word ‘radiator’.
Millicent Higgins and Nurse Crane are good friends (Image: BBC)
On social media platform X, user Just Me posed the question: “Ermm…is Phyllis developing dementia? ” They later asserted: “I told you…Phyllis has got early onset dementia.”
Debbie Blackman echoed the concern with: “What’s wrong with Phyllis? ” while Charlotte noted: “Something is wrong with Phyllis – Forgetting a word and the shaking.”
Another fan, Sam, pleaded: “Phyllis better not be ill!!”
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Nurse Crane is a fan-favourite in Call the Midwife (Image: BBC)
Nurse Crane has certainly experienced a rollercoaster of events throughout the series, with a notable highlight being her extended holiday in season 11.
This came about after she won a whopping £5,000 from the , which she used to embark on an exciting motor-coach tour around continental Europe.
However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Nurse Crane. She faced a difficult period when she was required to attend refresher courses to maintain her employment beyond retirement age.
Amid concerns that she might be forced out due to her age, Sister Julienne (played by Jenny Agutter) offered reassurance, promising that she wouldn’t be left jobless.
Call the Midwife airs on One on Sundays at 8pm