Call the Midwife star catches hypothermia as Storm Agnes wrecks seaside shoot

29 January 2024 , 22:59

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Winds of 57mph made shooting on the beach difficult

The stars of Call the Midwife have told how shooting a fun day out at the seaside was anything but - thanks to the “horrendous” weather of Storm Agnes.

In scenes to be shown in the BBC series on Sunday, the residents of Nonnatus House and their close friends all pack a picnic and head to the beach. But with winds of 57mph at West Wittering they were left shivering in their flip-flops - and Cliff Parisi, who plays shop-owner Fred Buckle, needed medical attention.

“Everything was going sideways,” he said. “The wind was unbelievable, it was so cold. I was wearing a shirt with a hanky on my head. I managed to keep the hanky the whole time - but I got hypothermia in the end. They had to take me off set. I had to warm up, I couldn’t go back on. We’d done most of it by that point.”

Cliff, 63, recovered quickly after being wrapped in a foil blanket. He added: “It was a laugh, but it was difficult to film. Things were flying all over the place. Hair and make-up gave up and ran for cover. One of the crews did as well, we had two cameras then we had one. There was sand in everything.”

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The actors were battered by the wind during the seaside shoot

The others agreed that week spent in West Sussex was the toughest shooting conditions they’d ever endured for the hit drama. Linda Bassett, who plays curly-haired nurse Phyllis Crane, said one of the directors got an eye infection from the blowing sand and laughed: “The first day, Nurse Crane’s wig went straight.”

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Annabel Apsion, who plays local councillor and Fred’s wife Violet, said that the hair and make-up team had an impossible task. “It was a nightmare for continuity but in the end they just gave up and said ‘we can’t do anything’,” she remembers.

“The weather had been fantastic just before we shot and was again just after we shot. But while we were actually there it could not have been worse. It was hysterical.”

In the show, Violet added a line to explain the lack of sunshine in the summer of 1969, muttering that the conditions for the day trip were “a bit disappointing’.”

Stephen McGann, the show’s resident GP Dr Turner, said the weather was actually “horrendous” as they pretended it was the height of summer, adding: “It felt like we were making a war movie.”

Laura Main, who plays his wife Shelagh, explained that even the crew, wearing several layers, goggles and hats, were complaining. “You feel silly moaning, a bit ridiculous, but it got to you. You had to shut down until it was time to bring it out for the camera.”

She was thankful her character had made towelling capes for the children to wear. “They came in very useful, they were a protective shield.”

Megan Cusack, the show’s Irish nurse Nancy, said that a kindly security guard took it upon himself to try and shield her from the sandstorm with his body between scenes. When viewers watch the storyline unfold this weekend, they will no doubt be reminded of their own chilly childhood trips to the British seaside.

One person pleased to have missed the shoot was Jenny Agutter, who plays head nun Sister Julienne. “I was upset because I love going away on location,” she explained. “And then I started to receive pictures and I thought ‘oh good, I’m quite cosy at home’.”

Showrunner Heidi Thomas also avoided the location trip and said the actors had only just forgiven her. “I had the bright idea that we should have a community outing to the seaside - we managed to film for five days during Storm Agnes. I didn’t go, I was so scared of the cast by this stage I said ‘I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it to the beach’.

“The sky is grey, the sea is leaden, and then you see the cast sort of tottering into the frame wearing 1960s towelling capes in bright colours. Only then do you know it’s not actually a film noir. We were going through the rushes and saying ‘I think that 99 is at an angle’ - even the ice-cream was blowing in the wind.”