Call the Midwife is in full swing with stars from EastEnders and Grange Hill joining the heartwarming period drama.Call the Midwife star teases return of character in series finale

Call the Midwife returned for season 15 last month with an abundance of talent welcomed for episode five.

The iconic BBC series is back for eight new hour-long episodes with the drama tackling topics including the development of the NHS, slavery and the Women’s Liberation Movement.

Episode five will see “tragedy strike” for a local family as Dr Turner’s (played by Stephen McGann) actions come under scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) has to make a decision about her future in nursing as the team continues to navigate the pressures of a modernising NHS.

Ahead of its return, here’s everything there is to know about the guest stars of Call the Midwife season 15, episode five.

Call the Midwife season 15 episode 5 guest starsIvan Barrowman – Lee RossCall the Midwife season 15 episode 5 cast: Ivan Barrowman is played by actor Lee Ross.

Call the Midwife season 15 episode 5 cast: Ivan Barrowman is played by actor Lee Ross. (Image: BBC)

Fans will recognise actor Lee Ross as Kenny Phillips from the iconic 1980s children’s show Press Gang, starring opposite former EastEnders icon Lucy Benjamin, who played Lisa Fowler in the soap.

He also featured in Professor T as prison officer Jon Steddon and Kloris in the Star Wars spin-off Andor.

A preview image from the Call the Midwife episode shows Ivan speaking to Dr Patrick Turner.

Paul Barrowman – Jack AlldridgeCall the Midwife season 15 episode 5 cast: Paul Barrowman is played by actor Jack Alldridge.

Call the Midwife season 15 episode 5 cast: Paul Barrowman is played by actor Jack Alldridge. (Image: BBC)

Paul Barrowman, believed to be Ivan’s son, is portrayed by actor Jack Alldridge.

He is a newcomer to the entertainment industry but last year he starred as Harry Garfield in Netflix’s historical drama Death By Lightning with Succession actor Matthew Macfadyen.

It is thought Paul will develop a bond with Dr Turner’s son Timothy (Max MacMillan) as they’ve been pictured sitting and smiling side-by-side at the back of a van.

Hilda Barrowman – Penny RyderCall the Midwife season 15 episode 5 cast: Actress Penny Ryder as Hilda Barrowman (far right).

Call the Midwife season 15 episode 5 cast: Actress Penny Ryder as Hilda Barrowman (far right). (Image: BBC)

Another key member of the Barrowman family is Hilda who is pictured sitting around a table with Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett), Patrick and Paul.

Hilda is brought to life by actress Penny Ryder who has had an abundance of minor roles in hit shows including Coronation Street, The Bill, EastEnders, Casualty and Motherland.

Lana – Milly ZeroCall the Midwife season 15 episode 5 cast: Actress Milly Zero as Dotty Cotton in EastEnders.

Call the Midwife season 15 episode 5 cast: Actress Milly Zero as Dotty Cotton in EastEnders. (Image: BBC)

EastEnders fans are in for a treat this week as a familiar face from Albert Square will be showing up in Call the Midwife.

Actress Milly Zero, famed for playing nasty Nick Cotton’s troublesome daughter Dotty Cotton will be joining the cast as a character called Lana.

Madge Barrowman – Barbara D’Alterio

Making up the Barrowman clan as Madge is actress Barbara D’Alterio who had parts in Top Boy, Doctors, Father Brown, Disney+’s true drama Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes and, most recently, The Bombing of Pan Am 103.

She is also seen chatting away with Dr Turner alongside the rest of her family in a released image.

Mrs Russell – Joanne Howarth

Another new but familiar face starring in this week’s episode is Grange Hill actress Joanne Howarth who played Sue Hargreaves in the hit teen drama.

Some of her other parts have been in Holby City, EastEnders, Wallander and Channel 4’s award-winning It’s A Sin.

Ruth Khan – Annie KingsnorthCall the Midwife season 15 episode 5 cast: Actress Annie Kingsnorth as Ruth Khan.

Call the Midwife season 15 episode 5 cast: Actress Annie Kingsnorth as Ruth Khan. (Image: BBC)

Rounding off the cast as the mother-to-be of episode five, Ruth Khan, is actress Annie Kingsnorth with Call the Midwife set to be her big TV debut.

An image has been released ahead of the episode showing Ruth sipping a cup of tea in bed next to her husband Dilwar Khan (Akib Ahmed).

Call the Midwife season 15 continues every Sunday at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer