The beloved BBC period drama Call the Midwife has captivated audiences since its 2012 debut with compelling stories of childbirth, social challenges, deprivation, medical advances, and life-threatening health conditions. Adapted from the memoirs of renowned nurse and midwife Jennifer Worth, the show was initially set in 1957, when the National Health Service was still a relatively new institution.
The fifteenth series recently drew to a close, chronicling developments in medical science and practice as reforms to the NHS threatened Nonnatus House with closure. Set in 1971, the season finale revealed the passing of beloved nun Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt), reducing fans to tears. But there was also a hint of what the future holds for the nuns of Nonnatus House, including a prequel, a movie, and a new series.
What is the Call the Midwife prequel about?
The new series, titled Sisters in Arms, will turn back the clock to World War II, showcasing younger incarnations of cherished characters Sisters Julienne, Monica Joan, and Evangelina, originally played by Jenny Agutter, Judy Parfitt, and Pam Ferris, during the London Blitz. It will represent the second occasion viewers have encountered Sister Evangelina since her death in series five, following stroke-related complications. She made a recent appearance during the death scene of Sister Monica Joan.
The returning Sisters will be accompanied by three fresh young midwives arriving in the East End for the first time. Sisters in Arms is set to air during the upcoming Christmas season, though the BBC has yet to announce a precise broadcast date.
"I have never run out of stories for our midwives, and I never will. But having wept, laughed, and raged my way from 1957 to 1971, I found myself yearning to delve into the deeper past," explained the show's writer and creator Heidi Thomas. "The Blitz years in the East End were extraordinary - filled with loss, togetherness, courage, and joy. The bombs fell, the babies kept on coming, and the Sisters kept on going."
Where will the Call the Midwife movie be set?
A Call the Midwife movie will continue from series 15 and will be set abroad. At the end of the final episode, Sister Julienne informed the midwives that the services provided by Nonnatus House will be "altered." She announced, "Sister Veronica and Sister Catherine and I have decided that Nonnatus House will become a house of prayer and charity while we discern our next steps."
Sister Julienne then appeared to tease three possible locations for the movie as she shared plans to join a new one-year medical mission. She added: "One of them would be in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, one of them would be in British Columbia, and one would be in a remote part of Australia." Although the cast for the Call the Midwife movie hasn't yet been confirmed, given Sister Julienne's words, it could potentially involve the three remaining nuns: Sister Veronica, Sister Catherine (Molly Vevers), and Sister Julienne. The Call the Midwife team hasn't yet confirmed the finer details of the movie, including its release date or when filming will commence.
Will there be a series 16 of Call the Midwife?
Call the Midwife has been officially renewed for Series 16, which is expected to arrive around 2027 or 2028, following a brief hiatus to accommodate a planned feature film and a new prequel series. The upcoming series is expected to delve further into the 1970s, featuring major shifts in the NHS, potential, and a possible relocation of the team.
In series 15, Trixie (Helen George) joined The Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair while Joyce (Renee Bailey) bagged a job at St Cuthbert's, so it is unknown if the two characters will be back, but their futures on the show have not yet been confirmed by the BBC. Fans could also expect to see the following characters in the new series: Stephen McGann as Dr Turner, Laura Main as Shelagh, Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne, Rebecca Gethings as Sister Veronica, Molly Vevers as Sister Catherine, Natalie Quarry as Rosalind, Zephryn Taitte as Cyril, Annabelle Apsion as Violet, Cliff Parisi as Fred, Daniel Laurie as Reggie, Linda Bassett as Nurse Crane, Georgie Glen as Miss Higgins, Christopher Harper as Geoffrey, Max Macmillan as Timothy, April Rae Hoang as May, Alice Brown as Angela, Edward Shaw as Teddy, Linda Hargreaves as Mrs Wallace, and Dame Vanessa Redgrave as the voice of Jennifer Worth. Call the Midwife is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
