Call The Midwife actor Daniel Laurie shares an incredible connection with one of EastEnders most legendary actors.

The star, who portrays beloved Reggie Jackson in the BBC One period drama, is the son of Leslie Grantham, who played ‘Dirty’ Den Watts in EastEnders.

 

 

Daniel’s first scenes as Reggie aired back in 2017. Following the death of his mum, Reggie travelled to Poplar and now lives with his uncle Fred Buckle, played by another EastEnders legend Cliff Parisi (Minty Peterson).

Daniel’s dad Leslie, of course, is considered soap royalty, having portrayed Dirty Den for two memorable stints in EastEnders.

Den and wife Angie (Anita Dobson) were the original landlords of The Queen Vic, running the iconic boozer from the soap’s inception in 1985.

The character was ‘killed off’ just shy of the soap’s 4th anniversary in February 1989, but made a shocking return in 2003, taking Walford by storm once more.

Leslie was written out of EastEnders in 2005, with Den’s latest wife Chrissie (Tracy Ann Oberman) killing him, for real this time.

The actor died in 2018 at the age of 71.

For the 2025, Call The Midwife is airing a two-part Christmas Special, airing on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with Daniel among the announced cast list.

The shows official Instagram posted a trailer back in May, teasing the upcoming two-part Christmas special, while spilling a little tea on what fans can expect:

‘Our forthcoming Christmas Special, set in 1970, will again be in two parts – but this time in two very different locations! The streets of Poplar… and the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong!

‘When senior members of the Nonnatus House staff head to Hong Kong on a mercy mission, the younger midwives are left to cope alone. As the Christmas action shifts between the sun-drenched Far East and a snowy East End, Sister Julienne finds herself excited about the Order’s future…’