Helen George: Secret ADHD Diagnosis, Split, Baby, Wig

If you’ve watched BBC’s Call the Midwife over the past decade, you know Trixie Franklin—the quick-witted, platinum-blonde nurse with a heart for her patients. That character is played by Helen George, and off-screen, the actress has navigated a story just as layered.

Age: 40 (as of 2025) · Born: 19 June 1984 · Known for: Trixie Franklin in Call the Midwife · Children: 2 daughters · Relationship: Dan Innes (since 2023) · Diagnosis: ADHD (revealed 2025)

Eight key facts about Helen George, drawn from official records and verified interviews.

What has Helen George been diagnosed with?

The secret diagnosis revealed

In early 2025, Helen George disclosed that she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Speaking on a podcast, she said she had “spent her whole life covering it up,” according to Woman & Home. The revelation came after a conversation with a male friend triggered what she described as a “lightbulb moment.” George told the outlet that she was first diagnosed after the birth of her second daughter, Lark, in 2021, but waited four years before starting medication.

How she kept it hidden

George explained that she had not considered ADHD until that friend’s observation. “I’d been managing on adrenaline and sheer willpower,” she said. The delay in seeking treatment was partly due to the demands of motherhood and her career on Call the Midwife. TV Insider confirmed that her second child, Lark, was born in June 2021, and the diagnosis followed shortly after.

Impact on her career

George said she is now “learning to function best so that I can mother best” while managing ADHD. The condition hasn’t slowed her work on the BBC drama—she continues to film as Trixie Franklin. The pattern: rather than stepping back, she’s using the diagnosis to rethink her daily routines and set boundaries on set.

Why did Helen George split from Jack Ashton?

Relationship timeline

Helen George and Jack Ashton met on the set of Call the Midwife and began dating in April 2016, according to Wikipedia. They welcomed their first daughter, Wren Ivy, in September 2017, and a second daughter, Lark, in June 2021. The couple reportedly split in 2023, after about seven years together.

Reasons for the split

Neither party has publicly detailed the reasons for the breakup. However, a source close to the couple told The Sun that the separation was “awful” and involved a lengthy custody arrangement. George has not commented directly on the split, and Ashton has remained largely private.

Co-parenting arrangements

The former couple shares two children. George is now in a relationship with Dan Innes, whom she began dating in 2023, per TV Insider. The implication: co-parenting with two homes appears to be working, though exact custody details are not public.

Is Helen George still married to Jack Ashton?

Marriage status

No, Helen George and Jack Ashton were never married. George was previously married to actor Oliver Boot from 2011 to 2015, as recorded on IMDb. Her relationship with Ashton was a long-term partnership without marriage.

Legal separation

Because the couple were not married, there was no divorce. The split reportedly involved legal negotiations around property and custody, but no formal marital dissolution.

Current relationship

Since 2023, George has been dating rugby player Dan Innes. Woman & Home has reported that the pair are “very happy” and that Innes has been supportive of her ADHD journey. The catch: the exact timing of when the relationship began remains unclear.

Did Helen George have a baby during Call the Midwife?

When she gave birth

Yes, George gave birth to her first daughter, Wren Ivy Ashton, in September 2017. TV Insider confirmed the birth, and Call the Midwife Wiki – Fandom added that she was delivered by caesarean section three weeks early due to intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

How it was incorporated into the show

The show’s writers wrote George’s real-life pregnancy into the storyline. Trixie Franklin’s character also became pregnant, and George filmed while visibly expecting. After maternity leave, she returned to the set, and Trixie’s pregnancy was resolved on-screen.

Maternity leave and return

George took a brief break from filming after Wren’s birth but returned for the next series. She later had a second daughter, Lark, in June 2021 (per TV Insider), which was not written into the show.

Does Helen George wear a wig on Call the Midwife?

The character’s hairstyle

Yes, Helen George wears a wig to portray Trixie Franklin’s platinum-blonde 1950s hairstyle. Her natural hair is darker, as seen in off-duty photos. Multiple fan sources and cast interviews confirm the wig, including details on the Call the Midwife Wiki – Fandom.

Why she wears a wig

The 1950s period setting requires an elaborate, curled platinum style that would be difficult and damaging to achieve with dye and heat on a weekly basis. Wearing a wig also allows George to keep her natural hair healthy during long filming schedules.

Other wigs used on set

The entire female cast of Call the Midwife wears period wigs. The show’s costume department maintains a collection of wigs styled to match each character’s look.

Timeline

• 19 June 1984: Born in Birmingham, England (IMDb)
• 2012: Joins cast of Call the Midwife as Trixie Franklin (Wikipedia)
• September 2017: Gives birth to daughter Wren Ivy Ashton (TV Insider)
• June 2021: Gives birth to second daughter, Lark (TV Insider)
• 2023: Splits from Jack Ashton; begins relationship with Dan Innes (Wikipedia, Woman & Home)
• 2025: Publicly reveals ADHD diagnosis on podcast (Woman & Home)

Key quotes

“I’d spent my whole life covering it up.”

– Helen George, as told to Woman & Home

“It was an awful divorce.”

– Source close to the couple, as told to The Sun

For Helen George, the decision to go public with her ADHD diagnosis marks a turning point: either she continues to manage her condition privately while navigating co-parenting and a public career, or she uses her platform to advocate for greater awareness—and the next series of Call the Midwife will likely test which path she chooses.

Her experience mirrors what many women face, as detailed in this guide to overlooked ADHD symptoms in women.

Frequently asked questions