CALL The Midwife has welcomed an EastEnders star into the cast, as it aired its latest pregnancy storyline from Poplar.
BBC viewers tuned in for the latest storyline from the Poplar midwives, with a familiar face from another BBC programme making their appearance.
EastEnders star Joel Beckett appeared in an episode of Call The Midwife[/caption]
The actor has played the role of Jake Moon since 2004, returning to the soap last year[/caption]
The latest episode saw mother of seven Peggy Wrigley (played by Rachel Tucker) turning to the midwives to plead for an abortion as she didn’t want another child.
Hiding it from her husband, she was met with a sympathetic Dr Tucker who explained that the procedure was legal but needed an additional doctor’s consent.
In a later scene Peggy is seen at home cooking for her family as her husband Jimmy Wrigley returns home, who was played by eastEnders actor Joel Beckett.
Spotting the star, fans took to social media to express their delight at seeing him in Poplar.
One person wrote on X: “It’s Jake Moon from EastEnders!”
Another shared: “Jake Moon from EastEnders and Shelley from Tracy Beaker! #callthemidwife.”
“#CallTheMidwife it’s Jake Moon!” said a third.
The episode ended in tragedy as Peggy suffered a miscarriage and later died in surgery, leaving Jimmy and their children heartbroken.
Actor Joel Beckett is best known for his appearances in EastEnders, where he played Jake Moon.
The character arrived in Walford at the end of 2004 as the cousin to Alfie Moon, played by Shane Richie.
Joel remained in the soap until 2006 before exiting amid a tangled storyline with gangsters and his romance with Chrissie Watts.
However he returned to the role last year after Chrissie was released from prison for the murder of her late husband Den Watts.
Outside of EastEnders and Call the Midwife, Joel has appeared in The Office, The Bill, Casualty, Coronation Street, Holby City and various others.
Call the Midwife currently airs every Sunday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Call The Midwife: A breakdown
Call The Midwife first came onto the airwaves in 2012 and has been seen by millions. But what is it about?
Series one: Set in early 1957 and it explored the ‘Baby Boom generation, which included themes of poverty and post-war immigration.
Series two: Set in 1958 and it showed gas and air being introduced for pain relief for the first time. It ended with the Nonnatus House building being condemned.
Series three: Set in 1959 and it depicted gruesome conditions such as cystic fibrosis, polio and it showed the midwives in the context on prisons.
Series four: Set in 1960 under the threat of nuclear warfare and the emergency response guidelines issued by the local Civil Defence Corp. Other themes included LGBT rights, and syphilis.
Series five: Set in 1961 and it shows the care of patients with conditions such as Typhoid and strokes. We also saw the effects of thalidomide, the introduction of the contraceptive pill.
Series six: Set in 1962 and domestic violence was at the centre of the season. Other themes included FGM (female genital mutilation), mental health issues and interracial marriage. It was also notable for the introduction of Reggie, a recurring character with Down Syndrome.
Series seven: Set in 1963 and we see Nurse Lucille Anderson for the first time. We also see the show address conditions such as dementia, huntington’s disease, leprosy and meningitis
Series eight: Set in 1964 and it bravely covered the issue of abortion, which was not legal for another three years in 1967. Sickle cell disease, cleft lip, cleft palate and intersex people also featured.
Series nine: Diptheria was at the centre of the ninth instalment in 1965, and it was notable for featuring a blind expectant mother. But the role of Nonnatus House within the community also came into question.
Series ten: Set in 1966, Nonnatus House has a rival in the form of the private Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair. PKU, diabetes and the controversy surrounding abortion were central themes.
Series eleven: Set in 1967 amid the housing crisis and a scabies epidemic. The show was rocked by a train crash right next to Nonnatus House.
