Jason Watkins

The former Eastenders actor said he hoped the ITV documentary would show that families 'can survive' a loss like the one he and his wife suffered.

[Line of Duty](https://www.standard.co.uk/topic/line-of-duty), Inside No. It will also be available to stream on ITVX. [sepsis](/topic/sepsis) in 2011 aged only two. Watkins also has two children, Freddie and Pip, with his ex-wife, actress Caroline Harding. Sepsis, which is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning, is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. “We are an imperfect family who have survived the worst thing that can happen to a parent,” Watkins said. (2009), Wild Child (2008), The Golden Compass (2007), and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004). Watkins is known for playing Harold Wilson in The Crown (2019) and for playing DS Dodds in McDonald and Dodds (2020-2023). [actor](/topic/actor) who has worked in [TV](/topic/tv), [film](/topic/film), and theatre. [ Bafta win](https://www.standard.co.uk/topic/baftas) for his role in The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, about the murder of Joanna Yeates, to his late daughter Maude. [The Crown](https://www.standard.co.uk/topic/the-crown). [The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies](https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/catch-up-tv-the-lost-honour-of-christopher-jefferies-and-marco-polo-9920103.html).

Actor Jason Watkins has opened up about the heartbreaking grief he and his wife Clara Francis faced when their daughter, Maudie, died aged just two.

[EastEnders](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/eastenders) actor said: "My memories of Maude are that she was such a happy child and very wise and very, kind of, centred. [The Crown](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/the-crown) actor's two-year-old daughter was his sunny little girl who used to love playing hide and seek. Recalling his painful ordeal, he said that he and Clara had to tell their story "over and over again" and he now hopes that this can be changed as they were also unable to receive mental counselling as the facility had been closed down. "The requirement of doing the job made you be somewhere else and made you be able to place your brain somewhere else," he explained. "It'll just hit you like a train. "But again once one has cried a bit, you feel that you have touched the thing that is most painful to you and you are able to cope better."

Jason Watkins and Clara Francis lost their two-year-old daughter Maude from sepsis in 2011 - now they've made a documentary to help other families with ...

He was also Harold Wilson in series three of The Crown and is DS Dodds in ITV light-drama, McDonald and Dodds. The documentary, which has been produced by ITV Cymru Wales for ITV1, follows Jason and Clara as they prepare to move from the flat where Maude was born, lived and died. People don’t know how to act around you, but, also, I want to talk about Maudie and people will know that she’s here.” Caroline is now married to Coronation Street actor, Chris Gascoyne, who plays Peter Barlow. Alongside wife Clara Francis the McDonald and Dodds star, 60, has made a new documentary about the loss of their daughter, Maude, when she was just two years old in 2011 after she went undiagnosed with sepsis while suffering from flu. Even after 11 years, it is still shocking," says Clara, as she helps her husband to pack up some of their belongings. Jason was previously married to actress Caroline Harding and they share two older children - Freddie and Pip. It’s so grim and unspeakable, people don’t know what to say. That makes it so much more painful to me because this is a death that could have been avoided." Jason is married to jewellery and fashion designer Clara and the pair tied the knot back in 2014. "This is where Maude was born. Here's more on what the documentary is about and more on Jason and Clara.

In heartbreaking scenes from their new ITV documentary, In Loving memory of Maudie, the couple sifted through their daughter's belongings for the first time ...

(…) I failed at the thing I was supposed to be doing, I was supposed to keep her alive.' but when you do know the signs, when you do know what you're looking for then you know. That makes it so much more painful to me because this is a death that could have been avoided,' Clara said Another echoed: '#InMemoryofMaudie is heartbreaking to watch, but it’s so important that awareness of sepsis is raised. So it might be a cold or chest infection that the sepsis is lurking underneath. Clara said: 'My drive throughout my grief was always to offer hope because I think without hope I just don't know if there is a future for somebody after the loss of a child. I don't necessarily cry there but I do like that because I feel close to her' Jason said Jason admitted: 'I do feel apprehensive because you think it's a delicate thing and are you doing the right thing. I don't necessarily cry there but I do like that because I feel close to her and all those things. I know that irrationally I'm doing this because if I crack it and no more children die, which is ridiculous because they will sadly and that I fully understand the condition that is sepsis, that Maude will come back walk into the room, I've got it I've cracked it this is what we need to do and she'll come back into the room… Visiting the morgue and coroners court, Jason said: 'This is the most difficult bit. It's the closest you can get to having her with us.'

ITV viewers watched as actor Jason Watkins and his wife Clara looked through their late daughter's possessions for first time in 11 years, ...

[EastEnders](https://www.irishmirror.ie/all-about/eastenders) actor Jason said: "My memories of Maude are that she was such a happy child and very wise and very, kind of, centred. "It'll just hit you like a train. "But again once one has cried a bit, you feel that you have touched the thing that is most painful to you and you are able to cope better." Are you wanting to keep stuff? "There's a part of me that wants to put my hand in the bag and just grab something and try to get used to it, just to try to make myself keep them." '"What are we going to gain from it?

The actor and wife Clara Francis tragically lost daughter Maude in 2011, when the two-year-old died of sepsis after being undiagnosed whilst suffering with the ...

ITV has released a first-look clip featuring actor Jason Watkins and his wife Clara Francis in the emotional documentary Jason & Clara: In Memory of Maudie, ...

"But also I want to talk about her and people will know that she was here." "But it does feel something to be shared and it can help us and other people." "I do feel apprehensive because, you know, it's a delicate thing, and you're thinking are we doing the right thing?"

Jason Watkins fans have praised the actor for his “incredible courage” after he opened up about losing his two-year-old daughter to sepsis.

Jason Watkins and Clara Francis tell the emotional story of Maude, who died from sepsis when she was two-and-a-half in 2011.

I can't imagine the pain and depths of despair that you have had to go through, but so brave to share your story #JasonandClara." Taking to Twitter, one person wrote: "An absolute heart-wrenching experience & I am staggered at your bravery in sharing your story of beautiful Maudie. I felt fate had been cruel and we had been smashed around in a storm. Describing the devastating moment their older daughter Bessie found Maude, Jason says: "Bessie came in and said 'I can't wake Maude'. "And there was a trickle of blood that had dried in her mouth so I knew she died straight away. The documentary also details how the pair are raising awareness of sepsis since Maudie's sudden death.

The actor, 60, and his wife lost their two-year-old daughter Maude to sepsis in 2011 and the couple have now made a documentary to raise awareness.

I know that irrationally I'm doing this because if I crack it and no more children die, which is ridiculous because they will sadly and that I fully understand the condition that is sepsis, that Maude will come back walk into the room, I've got it I've cracked it this is what we need to do and she'll come back into the room… I don't necessarily cry there but I do like that because I feel close to her and all those things. She was there and suddenly her sister wasn't there.' Visiting the morgue and coroners court, Jason said: 'This is the most difficult bit. It's the closest you can get to having her with us.' I can really just feel the weight of her on my lap' I've no idea how you cope with the loss of a child. I can really just feel the weight of her on my lap. Are you wanting to keep stuff? Another echoed: '#InMemoryofMaudie is heartbreaking to watch, but it's so important that awareness of sepsis is raised. 'What are we going to gain from it? They are so brave, whilst still drowning in grief, making this to try & raise awareness #InMemoryofMaudie #sepsis'.