The BBC has announced a three-part prequel to the beloved series Call the Midwife, titled Sisters in Arms, which will air over Christmas 2026. The drama, set during World War II from 1939, will be narrated by Jenny Agutter as the older Sister Julienne, a role she has played in the main series.
Younger Versions of Familiar Characters
The prequel features younger versions of five key characters from the original show. Amy Booth-Steel portrays Sister Evangelina, originally played by Pam Ferris, who died on screen in 2016. Helen Schlesinger takes on the role of Sister Monica Joan, previously played by Judy Parfitt, who exited the series earlier this year. Helena Wilson plays the younger Sister Julienne, while Ben Rose appears as a young Dr. Patrick Turner, fresh out of medical school, and Ciaran Bowling plays Fred Buckle, alongside his first wife Betty, played by Ami Metcalf.
New Cast Members
Joining the cast are Julie Hesmondhalgh as Sister Alice, an experienced nun, and three young nurses: Sybil (Liv Andrusier), Olive (Lizzie Back), and Marianne (Ellie Mckay). Bally Gill plays local GP Dr. Kit Malhotra.
Plot and Setting
The story begins in September 1939, with Sister Monica Joan in her prime and Sister Julienne and Sister Evangelina young and zealous. Nonnatus House remains the heart of working-class Poplar, where nuns and nurses deliver babies under difficult conditions—no gas and air, no penicillin, no cure for TB, and no welfare state. As war is declared, bombs rain down, forcing women to give birth in underground shelters. The drama explores courage, compassion, and resilience as the community fights for survival.
Production Details
Filming has commenced at Longcross Studios in Surrey, where the main series is produced. Showrunner Heidi Thomas, producer Ann Tricklebank, and executive producer Dame Pippa Harris lead the team. A full-length series of Sisters in Arms is expected to film next year.
Heidi Thomas on the Prequel
Thomas expressed a long-held desire to tell the story of the Nonnatus House nuns during the Blitz. She said, "Who were Sister Monica Joan, Sister Julienne, and Sister Evangelina, when they were young? What did they do, how did they survive, and how did the conflict change them?" She added that the series is about women going to war, love, birth, separation, and courage, set in a devastating landscape where even nurses may not survive till morning.
Future Plans
The BBC also plans a feature film set in the 1970s and a 16th season of the main show, though the order of production is yet to be determined. BBC drama boss Lindsay Salt expressed pride in the new direction, praising the cast and scripts.
