Call the Midwife’s Laura Main and Stephen McGann open up about their “tender experience” of watching their on-screen son Max Macmillan grow up on screen. The Mr and Mrs Turner actors shared their sentiments via a post on the BBC period drama’s official Instagram page, which also teed up a challenging episode this week for the trainee doctor Timothy Turner (Macmillan).

“I am so proud to be Max’s fake mum!” said Main. “There are strong bonds between us all, which have naturally changed and deepened over the years as everyone has grown up.

“Max has always been brilliant with the newer and younger additions to the Turner family, but to now see him carrying huge storylines as one of the adult actors is wonderful.”

She added: “He has a great relationship with Renee [Bailey] and Natalie [Quarry] (who play nurses Joyce Highland and Rosalind Clifford), who are similar ages. He’s graduated into being a full member of the adult company, but he’s still the kind, funny, thoughtful, caring and intelligent person he always was.”

McGann also chipped in, stating: “Watching Max grow up has been a real privilege.”

max macmillan as timothy turner wearing his doctor's uniform and standing in a line with fellow trainees in call the midwife

PHOTOGRAPHER:Olly Courtney//BBC

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“I have a son of my own a little older than Max, and I think this helped me create a bond with both Max and his character of Timothy in the drama. But sadly for poor Max, he’s had to put up with my terrible dad jokes and wind-ups on set for years and years!” McGann continued.

Macmillan, who started on the show in season two at just 12 years old, shared how “exciting” his journey has been over the years.

“I’ve been in this show for over half my life – I was 12 when I started and now I’m 25 – and a lot of it was just the wonderful shifting dynamic we had within the Turner family. But now suddenly Timothy has all these new responsibilities! I’m getting to explore a side of acting that I’ve always observed but never been a part of.”

april mae hoang and max macmillan as may tang and timothy turner in call the midwife. timothy playing the piano for his younger sister who smiles.

PHOTOGRAPHER:Luke Ross//BBC

According to Call the Midwife’s official Instagram page, episode seven will see Macmillan’s character “step up” as the “eldest Turner child [is] put through his paces as a trainee doctor in the East End”.

The post continued: “Sunday will see Timothy challenged where no parent is there to help. Will he be equal to it?”

Call the Midwife airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.

Read more Call the Midwife news on our dedicated homepage

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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since.  For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing.  She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
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