Call The Midwife's Reggie Jackson star Daniel Laurie's real age, famous dad and season 14 speculation
The new series of Call the Midwife is set to hit our screens on January 25 next year - and fans will be pleased to know that fan favourite Reggie Jackson will be returning to the show. A character adored by Call the Midwife fans, Reggie has been a staple in Poplar for the past six years.
The role is beautifully portrayed by actor Daniel Laurie, who was introduced to the BBC One period drama through a heart-wrenching storyline. His character's mother tragically suffered a heart attack in a church, leaving Reggie alone at home, anxiously wondering about his mother's whereabouts.
However, his distant cousin Fred Buckle (played by Cliff Parisi) and his wife Violet (portrayed by Annabelle Apsion) stepped in to look after Reggie as if he were their own child.
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Given that Reggie has Down's syndrome, he was offered a permanent spot at the Glasshouse Trust, a care facility for young adults with disabilities. Despite this, he frequently visits his family and friends in the East End and enjoys spending time with his friend Cyril Robinson (played by Zephryn Taitte).
But what about the man behind the character? Here's a few things you might not know about the much-loved actor.
Daniel's age and early life
Daniel was born in 1995, but it's not known whether he is 28 or 29 years old at present, as he has not released his exact date of birth publicly. He attended a drama school in South West London during his late teens, close to his home. He recently shared that he was forced to leave education due to bullying before he found fame on the BBC period drama.
He spoke candidly about his struggles with bullies, which led him to leave school before finding solace in launching an acting career at the age of 17. Over ten years on, he received a nomination for Best Actor at this year's TV Choice Awards for his portrayal of Reggie in Call the Midwife.
Famous dad
Acting prowess evidently runs in the family for Daniel, son of the late EastEnders icon Leslie Grantham. Leslie famously brought the character of 'Dirty' Den Watts to life in the BBC soap, and was an original cast member at the soap's 1985 debut before being allegedly 'killed off' in 1989.
Thankfully for fans, the gripping 'Dirty' Den narrative didn't end there; he stormed back into Albert Square in 2003 with a compelling return plot. In a 2006 Daily Mail interview, Leslie's then-wife Jane recalled the tender side of the man known for his onscreen villainy, describing him as a "fantastic" father.
Reflecting on an intimate moment shortly after Daniels birth, she said: "When he was just a few days old, Leslie looked down at the baby and said 'you know, there are some hard things in life, but this isn't one of them'."
Leslie passed away in 2018, leaving a legacy through his three sons and former partner. In a full-circle moment, actor Cliff Parisi's connection to Leslie spanned their time together working on EastEnders - and he has since worked closely with Daniel on Call the Midwife.
Other appearances
Daniel's break into significant roles happened in 2016 with the part of Jamie in Sky Ones comedy-drama Stella, where he worked alongside Gavin and Stacey's Ruth Jones, the mind behind the creation. His trajectory continued upward with a stint as Adam Beecher in an episode of ITV's Vera in 2020 and portrayal of Sheemie in The Dark Tower.
In 2021, Daniel took on the role of Zach in ITV's drama Finding Alice, starring TV favourites Keeley Hawes, Nigel Havers, and Joanna Lumley.
Daniel Laurie is set to return as Reggie Jackson in the Call the Midwife this January, airing on BBC One. Season 14 will include 8 hour-long episodes, as well as a Christmas special - and the show's creators have confirmed that season 15 of the series is also guaranteed, with it expected to air in 2026.
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