"Call the Midwife" Characters: the Nuns Quiz

Answer: Sister Monica Joan

At roughly 90 years of age, Sister Monica Joan is an institution among the residents of Poplar. One of Britain's first formally qualified midwives, she retired from service some years before the series began. As she suffers from periods of confusion and forgetfulness, she is not allowed to treat patients any more for safety reasons and often complains about feeling useless.

However, in a memorable episode she is the only person around to help a woman in labour get to hospital, and the grateful mother names her new baby "Monica".

Answer: She got married

Sister Bernadette, played by Laura Main, is the youngest of the nuns living at Nonnatus House at the start of the series, and a highly skilled nurse and midwife. Throughout the second season she is shown as being increasingly unhappy and, while maintaining a deep religious conviction, questions her calling in life.

She also develops a romantic attraction to the local GP. Late in the season, a period of isolation recovering from tuberculosis helps Sister Bernadette make up her mind to leave religious life, and she and Dr Turner are married in the season 2 Christmas special.

Answer: Louise

The consummate professional, little is revealed of Sister Julienne's personal life until the fourth season, when a man from her past makes contact. We learn that Sister Julienne (then known as Louise) was in a serious relationship as a young woman, which she ultimately ended to answer the call to religious life. We also learn that she joined the Order of St Raymond Nonnatus in 1932, almost three decades before the series began.

Answer: Sister Evangelina

Sister Evangelina came from a poor family with several siblings, both older and younger. She has a tough, no-nonsense exterior and bawdy sense of humour that sometimes hide a strong compassion for her patients, especially the women. She is also prone to reverse snobbery at times, being initially distrustful of the posh Chummy--and anyone else who she suspects might consider themselves to be better than the residents of the East End.

Sister Evangelina is played by Pam Ferris, also known for her roles in tv series such as "Rosemary and Thyme" and movies including "Matilda" and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban".

Answer: Enid

In this episode, we learn that the young Enid was hooked on midwifery from the instant she helped to deliver her baby brother. In a touching scene, her jubilee is celebrated by many of the babies she delivered - now grown adults - coming back to say thank you.

The timing of her golden jubilee means that Sister Evangelina would have entered religious life before the First World War, around 1910.

Answer: Department of Education Head inspector (nit nurse)

Sister Winifred arrived in Poplar in the third season, replacing Sister Bernadette in Nonnatus House. She was newly qualified as a midwife and was hesitant to attend to labouring mothers at first, preferring child health education instead. In her previous position, the children called her "Nitty Nora the Scalp Explorer".

Answer: "I have come to the conclusion that there are only two reasons for ever doing anything. One is love, the other is fear."

Not surprisingly, the gentle and wise words are Sister Julienne's. Sister Evangelina made the quip about childbirth (in response to an expectant father asking for an update), while it was Sister Monica Joan, of course, who was fixated on cake.

The final quotation was made by a guest character, Mrs Rubin, who was a Holocaust survivor. She offered words of comfort to one of the regular characters suffering a sudden bereavement (the details of which are not relevant to this quiz and so shall remain unspoiled).

Answer: aristocrats

At the end of the first season, we learn that Sister Monica Joan's wealthy family disapproved of her decision to take religious vows, and she was effectively estranged from her mother until the latter's death. Her experience gave her a special connection to nurse Chummy, who had a similarly frosty relationship with her own mother.

Sister Monica Joan is played by Judy Parfitt.

Answer: Obedience

The Sister explains that while she's never been concerned by poverty, and that the vow of chastity is helped by faith and time, "not to have your head" is a continual struggle. Although as the events of the series unfold, it becomes clear that Sister Evangelina is sincerely committed to following the rules of community life and the leadership of Sister Julienne - she just doesn't hold back from expressing her own opinion first!

Answer: Cynthia

Cynthia Miller, played by Bryony Hannah, was the quietest of the lay midwives and the one who had lived at Nonnatus House the longest. In the fourth season, she makes up her mind to join the Sisters permanently, and leaves for a period to study at the Mother House. She returns late in the same season as Sister Mary Cynthia - a transition that some of the midwives cope with better than others.

This turn in the plot would not have been a surprise to viewers familiar with Jennifer Worth's memoir. The character of Cynthia was based on a young midwife who also chose to enter the religious life.