Production on series 15 of Call the Midwife has begun, with a two-part Christmas Special set in Hong Kong and Poplar, followed by eight new hour-long episodes airing on BBC iPlayer and BBC One from January 2026. The series moves into 1971, with the midwives embracing Women's Lib and handling cases including premature birth, placenta previa, kidney cancer, tuberculosis, and slavery.
In a major expansion, a prequel TV series set in Poplar during World War Two will be made for the BBC in 2026. Additionally, Neal Street, in development with BBC Film, is producing a Call the Midwife film set overseas in 1972, featuring iconic characters from the existing show.
Heidi Thomas, creator and writer, said: 'The opening of new doors at Nonnatus House feels profoundly emotional... I found myself yearning to delve into the deeper past. The Blitz years in the East End were extraordinary - filled with loss, togetherness, courage and joy.'
Executive producer Dame Pippa Harris added: 'Emboldened by this warmth and enthusiasm, now feels like the right time to expand our world and take our nuns and midwives onto the big screen with our movie, and back in time with the prequel!'
Further details about the prequel series and film will be released later this year.
