star Stephen McGann, who plays Dr Patrick Turner in the long running medical drama, has said things will be more settled for the Turner family now he and wife Shelagh (Laura Main) have finally completed the formal adoption process for daughter May (April Ray Hoang).
Last season it appeared they might lose the youngster after she had an accident at the beach and .
Speaking exclusively to and other media he revealed the family’s relief that she is now officially part of the family.
“It was traumatic,” he admits. “It (the storyline) reaches a conclusion – that part of it reaches a conclusion. So they reach a watershed,” he said.
“And for the kids they’re more settled. They’re a little bit older, and on a personal level, it’s great working with them, because I tell you it’s just a lovely thing being on set with these kids,” he smiled.
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Patrick and Shelagh Turner attended a hearing with May to formally complete her adoption (Image: BBC)
Stephen also confessed that the addition of May to the family in season eight of the show only came about because creator and writer Heidi Thomas wanted Alice Brown, the child who plays their other adopted daughter Angela to have a playmate on set.
“One of the things at the back of Heidi’s mind was little Alice, who used to be there from a toddler upwards, sometimes you’d look at her, and it’s a terrible place to be a TV set, and she’d be on her own.
“And although me and Laura were very friendly with her… Heidi said, ‘apart from everything else, I think she could do with a little friend on set’,” he said.
Having decided on the adoption storyline April was hired to play the newcomer and Stephen revealed the young cast members immediately bonded.
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The Turners have finally completed daughter May’s adoption in Call The Midwife (Image: BBC)
“The first day we filmed, I remember the pair of them (April and Alice) instantly bonded, and they played together outside. It was such a lovely thing. Now fast forward and they are 11 and 10 – they have this beautiful friendship. They have this lovely love.
“All the kids are a whole gang now, and… of course, that won’t last forever. Life will take them in different ways. But to watch that, to watch the three of them giving me a hard time – because they answer back now – they’re all very funny,” he said fondly.
“I look at those kids like I look at my own son when he grew up, and I think I hope they remember this friendship that they had. I hope it’s a positive experience for them working on a programme like this, wherever life takes them in future.
“It’s been really lovely for Laura and me this year because they are in just a beautiful age. In a couple of years Alice will be 13, and she could be kind of giving me all sorts, giving me the silent treatment, you know, but right now, it’s just lovely.”
Call The Midwife is on One on Sunday nights at 8pm. Previous episodes are available on the iPlayer.