One of the real original Poplar sisters visited the ‘Call the Midwife’ cast on set

The stars of Call the Midwife welcomed a very special visitor to the set this summer.

BBC One’s popular period drama series is based upon the work of a real religious order of nuns who served as nurses and midwives in Poplar, London.

Currently busy filming an eighth season, the show’s cast and crew were recently visited by one of the real original Poplar sisters.

The official Call the Midwife Facebook page explained: “The Community of St John the Divine provides the inspiration for what we now call Nonnatus House, and the inspirational lives of our fictional heroines have their roots in lives truly lived.

“Sister Margaret Angela was a parish social worker in the East End of London in the early Sixties, when she felt called to a life of religious service. She joined the Sisters of St John the Divine in Poplar as a trainee midwife, and worked in the district until 1976, when the Community relocated to Birmingham.

“For practical reasons, the Sisters gave up wearing the habit in the late 1990’s – and as you can see from this picture [above], stylish Margaret Angela was sporting jeans the day she came to visit!

“You can also see her heavy silver cross, worn by all the Sisters in the Community as a sign of their vocation.”

They show’s team added: “It was lovely to have one of the original team visit our set and meet the wonderful team of actors recreating those days!

“At Call the Midwife we are very proud of our continuing association with this wonderful community of Sisters, and are privileged to be able to shed light on the real service done at that time by midwives like Sister Margaret Angela.”

Sister Margaret Angela is pictured above sitting with Jenny Agutter (Sister Julienne), alongside Call the Midwife newcomers Fenella Woolgar (Sister Hilda) and Miriam Margolyes (Sister Mildred), who have joined the cast for the new season.

Season 7 is available to buy now on DVD.

Season 8 will air in the UK on BBC One and in the USA on Masterpiece on PBS in early 2019.