Call the Midwife has become one of UK television鈥檚 most popular festive traditions, and this year we wanted to go even better with Call the Midwife鈥檚 biggest Christmas ever!
The 麻豆社 and Neal Street Productions have announced that this year, for the first time, Call the Midwife will celebrate Christmas with a two-part special coming to 麻豆社 iPlayer and 麻豆社 One over the festive period, in co-production with PBS.
The hugely popular series has traditionally treated fans to a 90-minute Christmas special, but this year鈥檚 festive trip to Poplar will consist of two 60-minute episodes 鈥� complete with a Christmas cliffhanger! Call the Midwife鈥檚 Christmas special has repeatedly proven to be one of the most popular dramas on TV over the festive period, with last year鈥檚 special reaching 8.9 million viewers (28-day figure).
All the regular, well-loved characters will return for a Christmas set in 1969 where the Nonnatus midwives are in their element, all busy delivering babies and doing the job they are most dedicated and committed to. The funfair comes to Poplar, adding a burst of colour and excitement to the frosty landscape but there are other visitors to the borough - including influenza and the Hong Kong flu. As Poplar also prepares for a carol concert, the neighbourhood is gripped by the news of an escaped prisoner and fears grow that he may be in the local area after a spate of break-ins. The Turner children are caught up in the fever surrounding the Blue Peter Christmas appeal to collect dinky cars and scrap metal. Trixie makes a fleeting visit to Nonnatus House and is delighted to see her brother Geoffrey, and Miss Higgins has her grandson Harry stay for Christmas. Violet hosts a mince pie competition but the Buckles鈥� preparations for Reggie鈥檚 homecoming are thrown into turmoil.
Heidi Thomas OBE, creator and writer says: 鈥淲ho doesn鈥檛 love finding an extra, unexpected present underneath the Christmas tree? When I was asked to write a two-part Christmas special for 2024, I couldn鈥檛 resist!鈥�
Dame Pippa Harris, executive producer says: 鈥淔or the first time viewers can luxuriate in a two part festive treat this Christmas. Heidi has created a spellbinding special which I know will delight our loyal fans.鈥�
Lindsay Salt, Director of 麻豆社 Drama, says: 鈥淐all the Midwife has become one of UK television鈥檚 most popular festive traditions, and this year we wanted to go even better with Call the Midwife鈥檚 biggest Christmas ever! Heidi and the team have lined up an absolute treat, with two irresistible episodes packed full of everything fans will love about this very special series at Christmas time.鈥�
Production is already well underway on the next series of Call the Midwife, which consists of the two Christmas specials this year, followed by eight new episodes launching in early 2025 on 麻豆社 iPlayer and 麻豆社 One in the UK, and on PBS in North America. A further series 鈥� Call the Midwife鈥檚 fifteenth - has already been commissioned, meaning that the multiple award-winning drama will be on air until at least 2026.
Regular cast returning are: Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan, Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne, Laura Main as Shelagh Turner, Helen George as Trixie Aylward, Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle, Stephen McGann as Dr Turner, Linda Bassett as Nurse Crane, Megan Cusack as Nancy Corrigan, Annabelle Apsion as Violet Buckle, Georgie Glen as Miss Higgins, Zephryn Taitte as Cyril Robinson, Rebecca Gethings as Sister Veronica, Daniel Laurie as Reggie Jackson, Renee Bailey as Joyce Highland, Natalie Quarry as Rosalind Clifford, Alice Brown as Angela Turner, Francesca Fullilove as Colette Corrigan, April Rae Hoang as May Tang and Edward Shaw as Teddy Turner.
Commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of 麻豆社 Drama, and Gaynor Holmes, Commissioning Editor for 麻豆社 Drama, Call the Midwife is made by All3Media鈥檚 Neal Street Productions for the 麻豆社 in co-production with PBS. The series is created, written and executive produced by Heidi Thomas, executive produced by Pippa Harris, for Neal Street Productions, and Ann Tricklebank who also serves as producer. Gaynor Holmes is the executive producer for the 麻豆社. 麻豆社 Studios distribute Call the Midwife globally and have sold the series to over 260 territories worldwide and counting.
JN