Call The Midwife fans were surprised after they spotted a kids’ TV icon in an unlikely twist on the popular BBC show.

Last night’s episode of the period drama starred Helen George as Trixie, Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan and Stephen McGann as Dr Patrick Turner, amongst other familiar faces.

However, some viewers were left gobsmacked when an actress who played a well-known character from CBBC’s early 2000 show, The Story of Tracy Beaker, featured in the programme.

Actress Lisa Coleman, 54, who starred as Cam Lawson in the popular show set in a children’s home, made an appearance on Call The Midwife.

In her debut performance on the beloved BBC show, she played social worker Miss Jenkins.

The episode covered the story of first-time parents Norma and Don, played by Alexa Davies and Garmon Rhys.

Their baby, June, was born with spina bifida and needed surgery. The parents felt they couldn’t take care of the infant’s needs and considered placing her in care. 

Lisa Coleman, who previously played Cam Lawson on The Story of Tracy Beaker, as social worker Miss Jenkins in Call The Midwife 

Lisa previously starring as Cam in The Story of Tracy Beaker

Viewers took to X to express their surprise at Lisa’s appearance on the period drama

Lisa, as Miss Jenkins, then stepped in and due to limited resources had to contact an orphanage instead.  

Fans recognised Lisa and took to social media to express their surprise. 

One viewer posted on X: ‘CAM FROM TRACY BEAKER #callthemidwife.’

Another said: ‘IS THAT CAM FROM TRACY BEAKER??? #callthemidwife.’

Someone else praised the casting choice and said: ‘Lisa Coleman plays a harsh social worker, in a perfect counterpoint from one of her most beloved roles, Cam in Tracy Beaker good casting #callthemidwife i see what you did there.’

Lisa previously played Cam in Tracy Beaker, an author and foster carer. She eventually adopted Tracy, who was played by Dani Harmer, in the show. 

She also later featured in Tracy Beaker Returns, The Beaker Girls and My Mum Tracy Beaker.

Some viewers commented on the casting choice on X

Some viewers expressed their surprise at Lisa’s new role and one posted: ‘The irony of Cam being a horrid social worker, the irony isn’t lost on me #CallTheMidwife.’

Someone else said: ‘It’s cam from Tracy beaker #callthemidwife.’

Another added: ‘Cam from Tracy Breaker is a social worker!! #callthemidwife.’

The chatter comes as Dani Harmer is set to make a surprise cameo appearance in Tracy Beaker spin-off series The Dumping Ground.

Dani will be returning to screens for a special one-off appearance and will even direct her very own episode.

Commenting on the new series, Dani told the BBC: ‘It is so good to be back and making a cameo as Tracy – she’s been a part of my life for over 20 years now – but I’d quite happily play her forever!’

‘This series of The Dumping Ground will not disappoint, we’ve got some fantastic storylines and some incredibly talented actors joining the cast.’

She continued: ‘The production team do such an amazing job nurturing them and they have really supported me behind the camera too, it’s such a special production to be working on.

‘I loved being behind the scenes for an episode – it was very different being sat in the director’s chair but I enjoyed every single second of it… it felt like that was where I was meant to be!’

Call The Midwife airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.