More on KentOnline
Baby triplets from Kent have appeared on TV screens nationwide - on one of the country's favourite programmes.
Triplets Harry, George and Oscar, who were born at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate in June, were selected to feature in the Christmas special of much-loved BBC show Call The Midwife.
Their starring roles came after their parents signed the boys up with a casting agency that was looking for twins and triplets, on a friend's advice.
Mum Kaitlin Beverley said: “They were looking for premature babies, because they can be used to portray newborns."
Filming took place in August, when the boys were just eight weeks old.
Covid rules on the set of the Call The Midwife meant actors weren’t allowed to hold the boys, so Kaitlin’s legs featured in one scene, and her arms in another.
Kaitlin, 30, who works in the medical devices industry, said: “It was a fantastic experience and something we’ll be able to tell the boys all about when they are older.
“The whole set-up was very baby-orientated, with strict limits about how long they could be on set. It was amazing to see how caring they were.
“The boys played two different babies, and I appeared in two of the scenes with them; in one you can see my hands holding one, and in another you can see my legs when the baby is ‘delivered’.
“They were actually born by caesarean section so it was a very bizarre experience.
“It’s not something we are planning to do on a regular basis, but it was amazing to do and lovely to see them on screen.
“They have changed so much since it was filmed so it’s a great keepsake to have."
Kaitlin, who herself has a twin brother, discovered she and fiancé Ollie Towner were expecting triplets when they had an early scan at eight weeks.
The boys were born by planned caesarean section at 34 weeks.
Harry was born first, then George, and they spent two days in the special care baby unit.
Oscar was born last and was the smallest, and needed another four days of special care.
The family then spent another two days together in hospital before going back to their home in Margate.
Kaitlin said: “We just made it up as we went along – to us this is normal, we don’t know any different.
“I chose to breastfeed and did that for six months, and of course everything takes three times as long.
“But watching them grow up and interact with each other is so precious. We wouldn’t change it for the world.”
She added: “As a family, we are so very grateful for the care we received during the pregnancy, and especially delivery.
“From the midwives, special care baby unit team nurses, to the consultants who helped deliver our boys safely, all five of us were cared for so well when we were in hospital.”