Call the Midwife star on Trixie and Matthew: "They may overcome it"
"They're dealing with a huge challenge, and who knows how that will pan out."
The unravelling of Trixie and Matthew's relationship in season 13 of Call the Midwife didn't just come as a surprise to much of the show's fanbase. Members of the cast were also caught off guard.
"I wasn't expecting it," said Georgie Glen of Matthew's financial troubles, which placed considerable strain on his marriage. "Although Miss Higgins has nothing to do with other people's private lives, as an actor I wasn't expecting it."
But Glen did go on to say that Call the Midwife is "not a fairy story".
"It's real life, and things happen in real life," she added. "It's not beyond reasonable doubt that someone who appears to have plenty of funds [could hit a rough patch].
"You don't know who's swimming commando until the tide goes out. So it's these unexpected things that make the show real."
In the season finale, Matthew had already flown out to New York to pursue a business opportunity, leaving his wife behind. But after extensive deliberation, she decided to join him – although it remains to be seen if she'll change her mind.
"They're dealing with a huge challenge and who knows how that will pan out," said Glen. "There aren't happy endings that you can ever take for granted. They may overcome it, they may not."
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And it wasn't just Trixie and Matthew's arc which developed in an "unexpected" way. We also learned that Miss Higgins has a son, who she gave birth to when she lived in India.
"Apprehension, that was my first feeling," said Glen of initially finding out what was in store for her character. "Because nothing like this had been asked of me in the series before.
"And it matters so much to me that it is believable and that the audience are carried along with it as well. The responsibility is huge, so you have to dig deep."
Read more:
- Call the Midwife season 13 finale leaves Trixie and Matthew in limbo
- Call the Midwife's Trixie and Matthew saga should never have happened
She added: "And I still, in a funny way, carry a bit of it in me. When the series ended, I came away still with it all inside me, and it hasn't left. I think it will live with me as an actor.
"I've never had a storyline that's actually not left me, and maybe it will go, when I don't play Miss Higgins anymore, but it's certainly there."
All 13 seasons of Call the Midwife are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Drama hub for more news and features.
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Authors
Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.
