‘Call the Midwife’ season 4: Jessica Raine vows to still watch despite exit

Can Jessica Raine turn from the star of “Call the Midwife” to one of the BBC series’ most-loyal viewers? If nothing else, she is pretty keen to try.

Only a matter of days after her final scenes as Jenny Lee were filmed, the network has confirmed her exit from the series. Not only that, a new statement that has come out via the actress herself explains a little bit while she is leaving in the first place. Like many before her (Jessica Brown Findlay on “Downton Abbey,” for example) this seems to be born out of a desire to try out feature films:

“As is in keeping with Jenny’s story, it’s time for me to explore pastures new. So it is with a head full of wonderful memories that I leave my friends and a show that I know will continue to go from strength to strength. I too will be tuning into series four and blubbing with the nation … It’s been a real privilege to help bring Jenny Lee’s story alive and amazingly satisfying to see how the public have embraced the series.”

Do we feel like Raine is going to be successful as a movie star? It’s hard to say, but there is a massive surge right now in British actors finding roles on American TV and film. So if she does come out to Los Angeles, the odds are very much in her favor that she could find some other work.

The BBC also added the following to the official statement on the subject of Raine’s future:

“Like Jenny Lee herself, Jessica is keen to explore new ventures. Jennifer Worth worked as a midwife for just a few years, but the nuns remained in the East End for another quarter of a century. Her friendship with the Order lasted a lifetime, and inspired her to immortalise them in her memoirs. Call The Midwife will carry on with that fascinating and emotional story, celebrating the people of Poplar, and the much-loved residents of Nonnatus House. We wish Jessica all the love and luck in the world as she cycles off into her future.”

The network also said that Vanessa Redgrave will continue on as the narrator of the series, even though we don’t necessary feel that the show really needs one given the nature of the stories being what they are.

Do you think Raine will pull off this new career? Let us know your thoughts.

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