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CALL The Midwife fans have been left stunned after discovering Renee Bailey’s former racy TV character.

The actress has become a fan-favourite on the period BBC drama for her role as student midwife Joyce Highland.

BBC

BBC

BBC

But Renee played a very different character to her medic persona just three years ago.

She starred in BBC Three series Mood, which followed the life of a young wannabe rapper and singer.

Nicôle Lecky led the cast, playing Sasha, but Renee also had a small role in the six-parter.

She played a sex worker during an episode, appearing on screen in a plunging shoulder-less dress.

Called Paris, she was even hired along with Sasha to have sex with an older gentleman.

In another scene the duo also imagined themselves in a music video, as Paris wore a skin-tight PVC black dress along with fishnets.

Reacting to the scenes, one Call the Midwife fan said: “No way is that Joyce from Call The Midwife.”

A second wrote: “I cannot unsee Joyce in fishnets.”

Renee also starred in Netflix series Rebel Cheer Squad, playing Lalia for eight episodes in 2022.

Previously speaking about her Call the Midwife character, Renee branded Joyce as a “force”.

She continued: “She is driven and knows what she wants. She’s come to England from Trinidad and was training in Birmingham before London.

“I’ve tried to bring in a little more softness as well as qualities that I love in Black women generally.

“I don’t want her to just be this stereotypical idea of what a strong black woman looks like. She has a lot of tenderness.”

Call The Midwife: A breakdown

Call The Midwife first came onto the airwaves in 2012 and has been seen by millions. But what is it about?

Series one: Set in early 1957 and it explored the ‘Baby Boom generation, which included themes of poverty and post-war immigration.

Series two: Set in 1958 and it showed gas and air being introduced for pain relief for the first time. It ended with the Nonnatus House building being condemned.

Series three: Set in 1959 and it depicted gruesome conditions such as cystic fibrosis, polio and it showed the midwives in the context on prisons.

Series four: Set in 1960 under the threat of nuclear warfare and the emergency response guidelines issued by the local Civil Defence Corp. Other themes included LGBT rights, and syphilis.

Series five: Set in 1961 and it shows the care of patients with conditions such as Typhoid and strokes. We also saw the effects of thalidomide, the introduction of the contraceptive pill.

Series six: Set in 1962 and domestic violence was at the centre of the season. Other themes included FGM (female genital mutilation), mental health issues and interracial marriage. It was also notable for the introduction of Reggie, a recurring character with Down Syndrome.

Series seven: Set in 1963 and we see Nurse Lucille Anderson for the first time. We also see the show address conditions such as dementia, huntington’s disease, leprosy and meningitis

Series eight: Set in 1964 and it bravely covered the issue of abortion, which was not legal for another three years in 1967. Sickle cell disease, cleft lip, cleft palate and intersex people also featured.

Series nine: Diptheria was at the centre of the ninth instalment in 1965, and it was notable for featuring a blind expectant mother. But the role of Nonnatus House within the community also came into question.

Series ten: Set in 1966, Nonnatus House has a rival in the form of the private Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair. PKU, diabetes and the controversy surrounding abortion were central themes.

Series eleven: Set in 1967 amid the housing crisis and a scabies epidemic. The show was rocked by a train crash right next to Nonnatus House.

TV star Fred Sirieix has paid Ireland a glowing complement after a recent trip here, stating: “You have never experienced real hospitality if you haven’t been to Ireland before.”

The French star, who shot to fame following his role as maitre d’ on Channel 4’s First Dates, has a new show which sees him embark on a cycling adventure through the stunning landscapes of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Tour De Fred sees Fred making his way across several counties, including Dublin, Derry and Donegal.

He said: “I’ve been in the UK for 32 years and I’ve never really explored Ireland or Northern Ireland properly before, so it was a fantastic opportunity for me and I am grateful that I was able to see the country for what it really is.

“People always talk about the Irish people being so hospitable and welcoming, and you think it is a myth, is this true? Am I really going to find such welcoming and kind people?

“And you have never experienced real hospitality if you haven’t been to Ireland before. The people are just so friendly. 

“When we went to Derry we got the most incredible welcome – it was so warm, so uplifting and so genuine. People would see me in the street and just shout, ‘Hey Fred, welcome to our wee town’, and that was just incredible. I can’t wait to go back to Derry – it was truly magical.”

The 53-year-old said he has been cycling since he was two, and he commuted to work by bike in London. 

But it was a different experience completely here.

He said: “One of my first challenges in the series was in the Mourne Mountains, which are a mountain range in County Down and it’s quite hilly and steep. As we were going up, it was raining and there was wind and it was so cold so it was tough.

“This is what happens when you cycle and face the elements and its nature. It’s life and I love being in the middle of the world – I’m a bit of a naturalist like that.”

And he said he got to experience some great Irish moments. 

Fred explained: “I really enjoyed learning how to make potato bread. That was fantastic because it’s such a traditional way to cook, and it’s something that people don’t really do anymore and to make it so traditionally was fantastic. 

“We also went swimming in the Irish Sea in November which was brilliant. Of course it’s cold, but you just get in and do it. The sea is beautiful, and when you’re in the sea in November it’s a mad thing to do but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it.”

EAGER RETURN

And he said he is keen to do another series in the south next time.
“I’d love to go back to Northern Ireland, that’s for sure. But, I’d like to go to the Republic of Ireland.

The TV star said: “I’d like to be able to go around the whole island, because I have just discovered a portion of the North and there is so much more to discover there.”

He added: “I just hope people will enjoy it, and it will compel them to go and visit and experience it for themselves. We show quite a lot of Northern Ireland, and we speak to a lot of different people, and do so many different things.

“For example, I went weaving and it was such an experience to learn how to weave and to do it how people were doing it 300 years ago. It was so exciting and people were so excited about their job, they just loved it and that was so refreshing to see.”

• Tour De Fred: Northern Ireland starts at 2pm on Monday 3rd March, and airs daily until Friday 7th March on ITV and Virgin Media. 

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