TV

Call The Midwife’s Jenny Agutter comes out fighting after co-star’s weight is criticised

She wasn't standing for nonsense talk

Jenny Agutter has supported her Call The Midwife co-star Helen George after the actress attacked a viewer who commented on her weight.

Helen, 33, who plays midwife Trixie Franklin, had hit back after a viewer tweeted to say she was “massive” and that she “should be put on a diet”.

Jenny defended her Call The Midwife co-star (Credit: BBC)

The star had filmed the hit BBC One drama while she was pregnant.

Jenny, 65, who plays Sister Julienne, told Christine Lampard on Lorraine today that the tweet criticising Helen’s weight had been posted by an “idiot”.

Jenny didn’t mince her words (Credit: ITV)

The iconic actress continued: “She responded in a way from all mothers, which is, what an extraordinary thing, how wonderful it is, you put on weight when you’re pregnant and she wants to feed naturally and she wants to be a good mother.”

(Ian West/PA)
Helen George was criticised by an “idiot” (Credit: PA)

“Part of it is that she is prominent. She is gorgeous and she is so glamorous. Sometimes there’s envy there.”

After a viewer wrote that “Helen George is massive. She should be put on a diet”, the actress fired back: “Sorry if my chins offended you, I chose to feed my baby healthily and not starve myself in a selfish act to look good on TV.

“Would you say this to a pregnant lady’s face? You should look on pregnant ladies’ multiple chins with love, they are busy making the future x”

Helen was pregnant with her first child while filming the seventh series of the hit BBC One drama.

Trixie is expected to be absent from the rest of the series (Credit: BBC)

Her character departed on-screen on Sunday, for a six-months leave of absence to tackle her alcoholism.

Helen announced the birth of her daughter Wren last October.

Let’s hope this was a lesson learned for the insensitive troll – and others will think twice before they type something hurtful and factually incorrect!

Did you ever suffer pregnancy prejudice? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!


Kaggie Hyland
Editor-in-Chief