Call the Midwife star Stephen McGann’s life with co-star wife and famous brothers

BBC One’s beloved period drama, Call the Midwife, has made a triumphant return with fresh episodes for fans to enjoy.

In his fourteenth season of the show, which now ends in 1970, Stephen McGann reprises his role as Doctor Patrick Turner, ushering in a new era for the plot.

The 61-year-old actor has been portraying the heroic doctor since the show’s inception in 2012, captivating audiences with his performances. As a beacon of hope in a poverty-stricken part of London, Dr Turner has saved lives, assisted in childbirth, and consistently warmed viewers ‘ hearts with each episode.

Fans of Call the Midwife will recall the heartfelt scene in which Dr. Turner, who was a widower herself, fell in love with Shelagh Mannion (played by Laura Main), at a young age. The couple is now raising four kids happily.

However, Dr. Turner’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. He spent five months in a psychiatric hospital after learning he had a mental breakdown in 1945.

As the BBC drama makes its comeback, let’s delve into Stephen’s life off-screen as he once again brings one of television’s most cherished doctors to life for another riveting season of Call the Midwife.

Based on Jennifer Worth’s best-selling memoirs, Call the Midwife paints a vivid picture of the heartbreaking and joyful lives of midwives and their families in London’s East End.

Heidi Thomas, who has been bringing the heartfelt and moving tales of the nuns and nurses who live in the east end convent to life since 2012, is the author of the BBC period drama. The 62-year-old author has skillfully woven the tales of Poplar’s most underprivileged residents when the NHS first started to exist.

However, few may be aware that Heidi and Stephen, who plays Dr. Turner, share a life beyond the cameras. Since 1990, the couple has a son named Dominic, who they have been happily married to.

Heidi revealed in a November 2020 interview with Good Housekeeping that Call the Midwife is frequently the focus of the couple’s conversations, but she shies away from disclosing storyline secrets.

She shared: “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.

Because I don’t believe it’s fair on him to have secrets, “Heidi added, “I never show him scripts or storylines before the other actors see them.” Before he gets that script, he is completely unaware.

As per Stephen’s book, A History of My Family in Seven Maladies, the couple’s love story began when he auditioned for Heidi’s new play at Liverpool Playhouse. At the age of 27, they tied the knot and spent a romantic honeymoon in Tuscany before settling into a warm cottage in rural Essex.

The couple’s partnership has endured for over three decades, a testament to their love and commitment to one another, both on and off the screen. In a heartfelt letter to Saga Magazine in 2023, Stephen described his partner’s tragic experience with death, stating: “When Heidi was suddenly struck down with a constricted bowel and advanced sepsis, fighting for her life.

He further expressed the emotional turmoil he went through, adding:” The love of my life was nearly taken away and like Scrooge watching Marley’s ghost, I was shown an alternative world. She returned to me after I followed a potential widower’s path with a young child.

Stephen also praised the virtues of the NHS, which had a significant impact on his family’s ordeal, in his television series Call the Midwife. He said:” In a spiritual sense, that’s when Call the Midwife was born. “

In recognition of her contribution to drama, King Charles III presented Heidi with an OBE in Windsor Castle in 2023.

Originating from Liverpool, Stephen is not alone in his acting pursuits, he comes from a family of actors, with three elder brothers who are equally lauded in their craft.

In 1989, Joseph McGann began his acting career by playing Lord Glozelle in the BBC production of Prince Caspian, and he later rose to the role of Charlie Burrow in the well-known ITV sitcom The Upper Hand.

The 66-year-old has an impressive resume, having appeared in a plethora of beloved 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 has also played significant roles in a number of musical productions.

Stephen’s older brother, Paul McGann, 65, is equally familiar to TV audiences. The actor 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 more.

Fans of documentaries will likely recognise Paul’s voice, as he’s lent his narration skills to numerous programmes including Secret History, Churchill’s Secret and Wildest Indochina.

Their sibling, Mark McGann, is also a seasoned actor who kick-started his professional acting career with the Everyman Theatre Company, Liverpool, in the early ‘ 80s before securing pivotal TV roles.

In 2021, Mark portrayed Jon Cummins in the true-life series Stephen. His other notable roles include Mad Dog in Scully, John Lennon in 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 television credits also feature The Bill, Where the Heart Is, Shackleton and Timewatch.

Mark, 63, is a man of many hats – he’s not only an actor but also a musician, director, and writer. He even owns his own production company, and he recently released a short film with the title Perplexed Music.

With numerous theater credits under his belt, he also has talents for the stage.

The McGann brothers – Mark, Stephen, Paul, and Joe – all showcased their acting prowess in the 1995 British-Irish TV miniseries The Hanging Gale. Additionally, Claire has a sister.

Every Sunday at 8 p.m. on BBC One and iPlayer, Call the Midwife is available to viewers.

Source: Mirror