It’s currently off our screens but Call The Midwife still has the power to distress us when it delivers bad news.
Yes, brace yourselves. We have to inform you that a character is departing.
And not just any character – Sergeant Peter Noakes.
Actor Ben Caplan is quitting the show.
He joined in the very first episode in 2012.
His character was, of course also married to Miranda Hart’s must-missed character Chummy.
Why is he leaving? Well, he said: “I’m taking a break to concentrate on other things.
But the door is very much open for both myself and Miranda and I’m sure we’ll make an appearance again.”
So there’s our silver lining – both he and Chummy COULD be back. Miranda, you may recall, pulled out of the last series at the eleventh hour.
He added: “It’s been lovely to have been there since the beginning, an amazing roller coaster ride.
And I’m honoured to have been part of the whole journey, but there comes a point six years down the line that, as an actor, it’s good to keep my foot in with the theatre world and exploring other roles.
“Much as I love playing Peter Noakes, it’s great to go off and play some more edgy characters and show a little bit more diversity.”
True to his word Ben, 42, is currently appearing in a very different show.
He is in a touring run of stage play Abigail’s Party.
We’ll have to wait until Christmas – when Call The Midwife is back – to miss him…