In many ways, Nurse Patsy (Emerald Fennell) is one of the more progressive, yet measured individuals at Nonnatus House. With her, she brings a calm voice of reason whenever a situation calls for a pause – but she’s also quite comfortable in remaining firm when it comes to expressing her beliefs and opinions. Throughout it all, she is an affable nurse that’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves and do what needs to be done.

As the fourth season of “Call the Midwife” has progressed, we’ve come to learn that Nurse Patsy’s significant other is a woman by the name of Delia. While that storyline hasn’t been completely flushed out yet, we have gotten a glimpse at the secrecy such relationships needed to have during the 1950s and early ‘60s to avoid persecution.

During this week’s episode of “Call the Midwife,” Nurse Patsy is front and centre in the story of an expecting couple that’s facing community ire over what’s viewed as a questionable sexual preference.

“I am a huge supporter of the LGBT community,” said Fennell in an interview with the Mirror. “It means a lot to me that we have a storyline like this, especially when we still live in a world where young people are being bullied at school over their sexual identity. Playing someone who feels they can never really show their true self is heartbreaking at times. There is no one Patsy can talk to.”

She continued: “Even with Delia, she still feels the need to be reserved. In the early 1960s it would have been impossible for Patsy to be open without losing everything, not least her job. ‘Call the Midwife,’ above all, is a show about love, and I am beyond proud and thrilled that my character is in love with a woman.”

It’ll be fascinating to continue witnessing Nurse Patsy’s evolution as “Call the Midwife” rolls on.

On this week’s episode of “Call the Midwife” (Wednesday at 9pm ET/6pm PT): As Poplar is gripped by a mysterious outbreak of dysentery, first-time mother Marie Amos’s life is turned upside down when her husband Tony is arrested for gross indecency with another man. Meanwhile, Nurse Crane meets Dolores McEvoy, a pregnant Irish woman with two young children who, on examination, is found to be covered in fleabites and clearly malnourished. Further confusion sets in when a home visit reveals that Dolores has given a false address and seems to have disappeared. Elsewhere, Trixie is delighted when Tom asks her to oversee the Rose Queen Celebrations.

-Adam Grant