Call the Midwife star Daniel Laurie, who plays fan favourite Reggie Jackson, has a very famous dad who is well known face amongst BBC viewers

Call the Midwife fans are only just realising one the BBC show’s best loved stars is related to an EastEnders villain.

Daniel Laurie’s dad is none other than Albert Square icon Leslie Grantham.

The actor, who stars as fan favourite Reggie Jackson and has Down’s syndrome, is the son of the legendary BBC soap actor who played Den Watts. Daniel first appeared in Call the Midwife back in 2017 when his character travelled to Poplar to live with his uncle Fred Buckle (played by EastEnders star Cliff Parisi) after his mum died.

Daniel’s dad portrayed Dirty Den for two very notable stints beginning in 1985 and 2003. Leslie was one of the founding members of Albert Square with wife Angie (Anita Dobson) and their adoptive daughter Sharon Watts.

The couple were the original landlords of The Queen Vic when the soap first aired on BBC One in 1985. Den was killed off in February 1989 but made an infamous return in 2003.

Leslie was written out of the soap two years later when Den’s latest wife Chrissie (Tracy Ann Oberman) killed him, for real this time. The iconic actor died in 2018, aged 71.

Meanwhile, Daniel has landed a new acting role away from Call the Midwife. The 28-year-old actor’s past credits include roles in the radio adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Barnaby Rudge, ITV’s Vera as Adam Beecher, drama Finding Alice as Zack, and TV movie The Dark Tower.

Daniel is set to join the cast of the highly acclaimed Sister Boniface Mysteries for its fourth series next year. Details about his character in the upcoming season are still under wraps, but he will be joining an impressive roster of guest stars.

The fourth series will also feature appearances from Les Dennis, Katherine Kingsley, Martyn Ellis, Mina Anwar, and Ed Birch. Lorna Watson will return as the crime-solving Catholic nun Sister Boniface, with Max Brown reprising his role as DI Sam Gillespie. Lorna Watson will be reprising her role as crime-solving Catholic nun Sister Boniface, while Max Brown will be returning as DI Sam Gillespie.

Jerry Iwu will be returning as DS Felix Livingstone and WPC Peggy Button will be played by Ami Metcalf again. Filming for series four has already begun in the Cotswolds and the season will air next year on BritBox International and UKTV’s U&Drama.

Sister Boniface star Lorna said: “It’s brilliant to be back with the gang for series four. I feel very lucky to be part of such a lovely show and can’t wait to get cracking, solving crime in the Cotswolds sunshine.” Neil Irvine, Executive Producer at BBC Studios, teased: “I’m thrilled that TV’s favourite forensic nun is returning for a fourth series. The alchemy created by Jude, Lorna and our wonderful cast and Midlands crew continues to delight viewers worldwide. This series sees a serial killer on the loose at the Christmas Pantomime and a threat to the convent itself. I can’t wait for the audience to find out if this is the end for St Vincent’s.”