Call The Midwife stars Jenny Agutter, Pam Ferris and Judy Parfitt tell Yours how they’ve become like sisters in real life. . . By Alison James
Sisters
on screen… and off!
here’s a bit of light-hearted banter on the Call The Midwife set as the three senior Sisters of the drama’s Anglican order of nuns film the special Christmas episode. “Do we Sisters like each other?” asks Judy Parfitt, who plays Sister Monica Joan. “Absolutely not. We can’t stand each other!” “Oh, we have a terrible relationship – we hate each other,” pipes up Pam Ferris, trying but failing to keep up the strict Sister Evangelina-like expression on her face and breaking instead into a broad smile. “I’m joking, of course. We get on really, really well. Knowing each other as well as we do now, we can tell when one of us is having a bad day and act accordingly. There’s a true sense of caring.” “We’re very supportive of each other – rather like ordinary sisters are in real life,” adds Jenny Agutter who plays nunin-charge, Sister Julienne. “The fact that our characters are completely different helps. That’s not to say we don’t drive each other mad at times. We can’t hear each other when we’re wearing our wimples, for instance. We’re constantly repeating ‘What? What? What?’ That gets irritating but then the wimples are irritating in themselves – you get very hot. All in all, Nuns having fun! Above from top, clockwise: though, we do have a wonderful Jenny Agutter, Judy Parfitt and Pam Ferris. Right: Miranda Hart as midwife Chummy with her family time together.”
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No sibling rivalry, then? “Such as ‘She’s got more lines than I have?’,” asks Judy. “Not at all. As Jenny says, we support each other. We obviously talk much more than real nuns do – between ourselves and with the younger members of cast, too. We are a very diverse group of women – different ages, backgrounds, training and experience. “Because most of us have been working together for three years now, we’ve got to know each other very well. You don’t get that kind of closeness when you work with people for a limited time. As we are a female-heavy cast, the conversation reflects this. We’re more likely to swap recipes than talk sport!” So what’s happened at Nonnatus House since we were last there in March? “Well, it’s the first Christmas in the new Nonnatus House but Sister Julienne is reminded of the Christmas before and the bomb left from the war, which exploded,” explains Jenny. “Some of the Christmas things that had been packed away emerge broken. But, despite some very sad situations this year – including the plight of two unmarried mothers-to-be and also a couple on the borderline of survival – there is a great deal of hope for the future at Christmas. “You see a very nice relationship growing between Sister Julienne and midwife Cynthia Miller, who is going through significant changes in her life. “It all sets up a great deal for the coming series – it’s the very end of the Fifties, a new era and the world is changing fast,” Jenny adds. “The extraordinary thing for me about this time was the way people were able to resolve issues themselves as opposed to expecting someone else to take care of them. It’s a time when people are still grateful for the National Health Service and for all the things they have post-war.”
All friends together: Jenny, Judy and Pam get on famously!
Pam nods but clearly has another point to make. “I feel the main focus of the Christmas episode is on those who were excluded from society back then – even at Christmas time. I hope we are more broadminded and compassionate today. I’m always amazed at how much things have changed in living memory. It’s good to remember how far we’ve come and not take it for granted.” So will Pam (66), Jenny (62) and Judy (79) be watching Call The Midwife on Christmas Day? “I imagine so,” Jenny replies. “We will have seen the Christmas special at a screening beforehand but our partners and families will want to watch – and, yes, there will be tears.” “My husband is the worst for that,” smiles Pam. “He gets so emotional. Suddenly I’ll hear sobbing coming from the other chair… over the tissues go!” Series five of Call the Midwife has been commissioned before series four has even started. What do the Sisters think about this? “We’re all a bit on edge when new scripts arrive,” says
Jenny. “You’re constantly thinking, ‘Where’s it going to go next?’ But writer Heidi Thomas unearths some incredible stories and real-life issues through meticulous research, and so long as she can carry on doing this, it can go on and on. “I think many people thought Call The Midwife might end when Jessica Raine, who played Jenny Lee, left at the end of the last series but I believe Heidi used up most of the stories and happenings in the real Jennifer’s three books in the first series. “I tell the young people on set to make the most of the show’s success because it doesn’t happen to most people in this business,” adds Judy. “I think the success is down to the scripts, and the fantastic casting. Also, the period detail is wonderful and there’s no swearing and no sex, although we do of course see the results of that. And no matter how many times you see a baby being born, it’s always a miracle. That never changes.” ✢ The Call The Midwife Christmas Special is on BBC1 on Christmas Day at 7.50pm. If you’ve missed it you can catch it on BBC iPlayer. The new series begins in January. YOURS
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PIC: KARWAI TANG-ALPHA PRESS, CAMERA PRESS, GUARDIAN NEWS & MEDIA LTD, BBC
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❙ star chat ❙
Style notes
Sleep yourself younger Choosing the right product to do its work while you sleep can really make a difference to your skin. Here are our beauty suggestions... BY Charlotte Haigh MacNeil
Meet our expert Noella Gabriel is director of product and treatment development at skincare company Elemis and an all-round skincare guru
t’s easy to skimp on your bedtime skincare routine, after all you’ll be snuggled under your duvet for the next eight hours and you’re too tired to make a lot of effort! But with a few simple tweaks and a night cream designed to benefit your skin overnight, you’ll soon be rewarded with a brighter, younger-looking complexion. “Sleep is when your skin
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detoxes and replenishes itself,” says Noella Gabriel, skincare expert at Elemis. “Skin renewal peaks between 11pm and 3am, which is when it can best absorb active ingredients, so you should use a specially designed product that includes ingredients that really get to work in these hours.” They’re not just moisturisers – night creams are designed to nourish and top-up your skin with any vitamins lost during the day.” So what should our ideal pre-bedtime routine look like? It doesn’t need to be too
complicated or time-consuming. “Your skin simply needs to be cleansed of dirt and excess oil before applying a night cream,” says Noella. “Use a balm or a rich cream cleanser for mature skin that won’t dry out your face, then remove it with a warm flannel before smoothing on your chosen product and letting the treatment work its magic while you sleep!”
Here’s our pick of the best night creams… Origins Make a Difference Night £34.50/50ml BEST FOR: Intensive moisturising Find your skin can get dehydrated overnight? Reach for this superrich cream, with rose of Jericho, lychee and watermelon extracts to help lock in moisture.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate £36/30ml BEST FOR: Deep softening Just a few drops of this oil will instantly soften your skin and give you a glow. Supercharged with omega-6 fatty acids and essential oils, it’s designed to quickly replenish lost moisture.
Give your circulation an extra boost for even brighter skin by using a Body Shop mini skin massager £6, to work in your night cream
Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Night Cream £9.49/50ml BEST FOR: Natural nourishing Argan oil has been a beauty secret in the Middle East for years. This natural cream is packed with antioxidants and essential fatty acids to deeply moisturise your skin.
Organic Surge Overnight Sensation Night Cream £8.99/50ml BEST FOR: Soothing while you sleep This ultra-moisturising cream is packed with lavender essential BUDGET oil, which not only calms your skin BUY and fights wrinkles, but can also aid sleep. Other gorgeous natural ingredients include shea butter to leave skin feeling firmer.
Eucerin HyaluronFiller
Vichy LiftActiv Nuit £28/50ml BEST FOR: An overnight facelift If dull skin is your main concern, this rich cream, pumped full of fortifying thermal spa water, will give you a lifting effect that lasts throughout the following day.
Olay Regenerist Super Renewal Elixir £29.99/50ml BEST FOR: Speedy anti-ageing A bit different to a traditional night cream, this is more of a serum but is designed to be used alone. It contains glycolic acid, which gently exfoliates overnight, allowing fresh cells to come through and leaving your skin firm and glowing. STOCKISTS: The Body Shop 0800 092 9090 www.thebodyshop.com; Dr Organic 01792 646475 www.drorganic.co.uk; Elemis 0117 316 1888 www.elemis.co.uk; Eucerin www. eucerin.co.uk; Kiehls 0800 587 0830 www. kiehls.co.uk; Olay 0800 917 7197 www.olay. co.uk; Organic Surge 01955 606 061 www. organicsurge.com; Origins 0800 054 2888 www.origins.co.uk; Vichy www.vichy.co.uk Details correct at time of going to press
✢ NEXT ISSUE The next big thing in beauty – anti-ageing oils!
For more tips on how to get a good night’s sleep, visit www.yours.co.uk/health
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£26/50ml BEST FOR: Plumping out your complexion Hyaluronic acid helps hold moisture in your skin but with age, levels decline naturally, leading to wrinkles and loss of volume. This clever product helps replenish hyaluronic acid, firming and plumping your skin.
Good to KNOW... The best month to pick up bargain..
JANUARY
.
ELECTRONICS
✢ Stick to New Year resolutions to be debt free. “Write down what you owe on credit cards, loans and overdrafts and the interest rate and monthly repayments for each,” says Andrew Hagger from MoneyComms. co.uk. “Then focus your efforts on paying off the borrowing with the highest interest-rate first. Track your progress each month on a spreadsheet or handwritten record. Seeing your debt decreasing will give you the encouragement to keep going.”
s The stores discount electrical item avs satn ers, play DVD ding inclu and toasters!
FEBRUARY
✢ Love your finances. When did you and your partner last talk money? “Four in five couples discuss their future finances but only half turn into concrete plans,” says Vince Smith-Hughes at Prudential. “To secure a target income in retirement, seek professional advice together from a financial advisor.” Write your will and arrange power of attorney using Yours Retirement Services (www.yours. . The best month to pick up bargain.. co.uk/retirementservices) on KITCHEN APPLIANCES Snap up end-of-line appliances 0808 156 9012. including washing machines and fridge freezers
Detox your finances MAY
The best month to pick up bargain..
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✢ Perfect your pension. CAMERAS Saving into a personal h, As the summer holidays approac pension benefits from on ls dea g ptin tem r retailers offe a Government tax relief end-of-line products boost, adding £200 for every £1,000 saved. “With new pension freedoms, they’ve got even better,” says Danny Cox of Hargreaves Lansdown. “At 55, investors can take their pension money all in one go. Withdrawals are taxable but 25 per cent is tax-free,” says Danny.
SEPTEMBER
The best month to pick
up bargain...
KETTLES & CARS
✢ Get ready for winter Get discounts on kettles and bills. “Many people microwaves. The number plate change me ans are still paying skydiscounts on older cars high rates for gas and electricity, so this time of the year can cause concern,” says Matt Ridout at Energyhelpline.com. “By changing energy supplier, many households could cut hundreds of pounds from their bills.” Switch with Yours Switching – call 0800 008 7777 (www.energyhelpline. com/yours) for free, impartial advice and see how much you can save.
JUNE
✢ Get ready for your hols. Use Top10.com to search prices from LateRooms and Expedia. Get flight deals using Skyscanner. Beat exchange rates using a Caxton FX currency card (www.caxtonfx.com). If holidaying in the EU, don’t get caught out – get a free EHIC The best month to pick (nhs.uk/ up bargain... ehic) to gain TVs access to New TVs are launched this local health month, so older mode ls should care. drop in price
OCTOBER
✢ Get a better mortgage. “The savings from changing a small mortgage – up to £25,000 – are unlikely to be worthwhile but with a larger one, even if it only has a few years remaining, savings can be made by switching to a new rate if the mortgage is on the standard variable rate,” says Ray Boulger at Charcol.co.uk. “And take . The best month to pick up bargain.. advantage of current low GARDEN FURNITURE rates to overpay each As summer ends you can find month if possible.” attractive prices on patio sets and recliners
JUST VISIT
.co.uk
MARCH
up bargain...
CARS
✢ Spring clean those savings! March is a good time to research best ISA deals because April is the new ISA season. “You can now invest up to £15,000 in ISAs,” says Rachel Springall at Moneyfacts.co.uk. “Some of the easiest to manage are Cash ISAs which allow easy access or you can fix to gain a higher return. Remember to transfer an ISA if it’s no longer a good deal – don’t cash it in or you’ll lose its tax-free status.”
As the new registration comes out this month, you can pic k up great deals on older models
in 2015 JULY
✢ Get tax savvy with the start of the new tax year on April 5. “Use your tax allowances, including your ISA allowance, as early as you can in the tax year to benefit from a whole year’s tax savings,” says Danny Cox at Hargreaves Lansdown. “Married couples (or civil . partners) should hold The best month to pick up bargain.. cash in the name of the DIY PRODUCTS person who pays the nd Easter, DIY stores are keen Arou lowest rate of tax.” to get your custom so starting offering discounts
Finances looking flabby after the festive splurge? Knock them into shape this New Year! By Sarah Jagger
The best month to pick up bargain..
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✢ Check your credit BOILERS report. Need a loan l British Gas, nPower and even loca for a holiday or home . now ls dea do n plumbers ofte improvements? Check (Source: Moneymagpie.com) your credit rating is up to scratch by registering with one of the credit report agencies – Experian, Callcredit or Equifax. For just £2 you can get a paper copy of your credit check in the post.
NOVEMBER
APRIL
The best month to pick up bargain..
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CHRISTMAS GIFTS
✢ Remember, remember to get On Black Friday (last Friday in ready for December! November), get big discounts on beauty, gadgets and clothing Cut back on spending to free-up cash for costly December. Use a budget planner (there’s one on www.Yours.co.uk/money-and-shopping) – or jot down how much you pay out each month and how much comes in. Cancel what you don’t need, or switch to lower-cost alternatives.
AUGUST
✢ Ditch pricey insurance renewals. Never accept your insurer’s renewal quote – it won’t be the best price they can offer. Instead collect better quotes from other insurers then ask your provider if it can match or beat it. Find ways to cut premiums further. For instance, Lucy Burnford of Motoriety.co.uk suggests keeping car insurance down The best month to pick up bargain... by adding a lowrisk driver to your LAPTOPS policy and not Back-to-school and un iversity overestimating sales mean bargain pri nters, ink, sof tware and laptops annual mileage.
DECEMBER
✢ Be a wise shopper. “Look in charity shops for items that could be turned into presents,” says Jasmine Birtles at Moneymagpie.com. Add Christmas non-perishables to your weekly shop and use store card vouchers or points to buy gifts . for others. Spread the The best month to pick up bargain.. cost of get-togethers COFFEE MACHINES by splitting the food Many shops drop prices on gifts and drink costs with such as coffee machines and food the others.” (Source: Which.co.uk) processors.
✢ NEXT ISSUE How to start a business at 50-plus!
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The best month to pick
HOME
& craft
Give a dog a bone
DIFFICULTY RATING
★★★★★
This easy-to-make pillow is perfect for your favourite four-legged friend Compiled by Claire Williams
Materials:
✢ 2 pieces of fabric large enough to fit the template (different in colour and pattern if desired) ✢ Polyester toy filling ✢ Needle ✢ Thread ✢ Fabric scissors
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Instructions: Enlarge the bone template on a photocopier to the size that you require for your dog. Remember that you will have to allow a 1cm (½in) seam allowance around the bone.
1
Cut out two bone shapes from your fabric, remembering to add a 1cm (½in) seam allowance all the way around, and pin them together with the right sides facing.
2
Stitch around the edge of the bone, leaving the seam open where marked on the template. It’s a good idea to stitch around the bone twice to make it extra secure and more hard-wearing.
3
Trim the seam allowance and snip the seams (cut small triangles) on all the curves.
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Turn the pillow to the right side out and stuff well with polyester filling. Use a pencil to push the stuffing into the all corners.
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To finish sew the opening closed.
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✢ Taken from Pamper your Pooch by Rachel Blondell, published by Kyle Books. Priced at £9.99. Photography by Kate Whitaker
To make different sizes, just enlarge or reduce the pattern on a photocopier
Doggie ball This fun toy can be thrown in the washing machine if it gets too mucky Materials: • Piece of fabric measuring 20x50cm (8x20in) or 6 pieces of 20x8cm (8x3in) if you would like to use different fabrics. • 2 pieces of cotton twill tape 45cm long • Small fabric scraps for stuffing • Strong thread and needle
Using the ball template (above, right) cut out 6 pieces of fabric. Enlarge on photocopier if preferred.
1
With right sides facing, pin and stitch 3 pieces of fabric together and then repeat with the other 3 pieces.
2
tape inside the ball, sew the two remaining sides of the ball together, leaving an opening in one side to insert the stuffing. Then fill the ball with small scraps of fabric and stitch the opening closed with strong thread.
5
Place a piece of twill tape onto Hand stitch across each seam the opposite edges of one of from the top to the bottom of the the three stitched sections of the ball to give it extra strength. ball at the notch mark, making sure Tie knots in your twill tape to the tape is lying on the right side of the fabric, towards the centre of the form a handle with which to ball. Stitch into place, sewing back throw the ball. and forth several times to attach the handle firmly. ✢ NEXT ISSUE Make this tablet holder and you’ll With right sides be able to use it hands free! facing and the twill
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6 7
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Find the free pattern to make your pooch a coat at www.yours.co.uk/knittingandcraft
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mfrom y lessons life… Legendary actor Dustin Hoffman, set to star in the BBC’s Esio Trot on New Year’s Day, chats to Yours about life and work Realising that was a wake-up call for me. The thing is, when you’re in your 30s and 40s work can be all-encompassing. Realising you need to put a brake on it and say, ‘My work is just my work. It should not be my life’ is a huge thing. You realise you have not really been living your life.
✢ Age is just a number Older people make up a rich community these days. And what’s old anyway? There’s a famous Portuguese film-maker called Manoel de Oliveira who’s just finished directing a film and he’s 105. The philosopher Bertrand Russell said a great thing when he turned 90; he was asked how he felt and his reply was, “Oh to be 80 again.”
✢ Tortoises are great! I should know, I worked with about 60 real ones in Esio Trot and have one myself. Mine is called Seventy because I got him for my 70th birthday about 25 years ago – I’m kidding about the time I’ve had him. While making Esio Trot, I learned that tortoises like strawberries and I couldn’t 114
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✢ Working with exceptional talent awes me
Dustin with his wife Lisa and right, with the extraordinary Judi Dench
wait to get home to feed Seventy some strawberries. On set, I was fascinated by watching all the tortoises eat. What wasn’t so good was the tortoise poop. It was the real thing. Sixty tortoises? I’ve never smelled anything like it!
✢ Success is accidental
I am so delighted to have finally worked with Judi Dench. She is the most extraordinary of the extraordinary actors. She is this blend of character and herself. She’s the character but also every molecule of herself is in there and, for my two bucks, you won’t get better acting than that. She just allows you right into her bone marrow.
✢ I’ve never been bored I can honestly say that I don’t remember ever being bored in life. Depressed, anxious, sad, frightened? Yes. But never bored because I never know what’s going to happen next. That stops you from being bored.
I think it’s by hook or by crook that you become successful in ✢ Esio Tro is on BBC1 at 6.30pm on this business. Actually it’s a freak New Year’s Day. accident. I know so many talented ✢ Dustin was talking to Alison James. actors who just weren’t in the right place at the right time. WHAT MADE YOU WHO YOU I’m 5ft 6in and never, ever ARE TODAY? envisaged I’d become a ‘Having an unhappy childhood. I’m serious. leading man. I thought it I’ve met very few creative people who’ve had a would be character roles all the way. Sometimes I think truly happy childhood. I just think that the more I’ll wake up and it will all have creative you are, the more complicated your been a dream! childhood and adolescence must have been.’
PICS: REX FEATURES
✢ Work should not be your life