The beloved BBC series Call the Midwife has confirmed the return of Sister Monica Joan, despite her on-screen death in the season 15 finale. The character, portrayed by Judy Parfitt, will reappear in the forthcoming three-part prequel series Sisters in Arms, set in Poplar during the London Blitz of World War II.
In the recently concluded season 15, Sister Monica Joan passed away peacefully in bed at Nonnatus House after refusing treatment for chronic kidney disease. Her death was marked by a vision of her late friend Sister Evangelina (Pam Ferris) and a funeral featuring a traditional costermonger's cart, leaving fans heartbroken. However, the show is rewinding the clock to bring back younger incarnations of Sister Monica Joan, Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter), and Sister Evangelina in the prequel.
Prequel Details and Creative Vision
Creator and writer Heidi Thomas shared with Radio Times that the new series focuses on "strong women above all else", navigating a world where men are dispatched to war. The returning sisters will be joined by three new young midwives unfamiliar with the East End. Thomas explained she had "never run out of stories for our midwives" but felt a yearning to explore the deeper past beyond the years 1957 to 1971 already covered by the show. "The Blitz years in the East End were extraordinary - filled with loss, togetherness, courage and joy," she added.
Broadcast Plans and Future Projects
Show bosses have confirmed there will be no traditional Christmas special in 2026; instead, Sisters in Arms will take centre stage during the festive period. Heidi Thomas noted this is "a very temporary pause in the usual pattern." Additionally, Call the Midwife is set to expand into a feature film set overseas in 1972, alongside the upcoming season 16. The prequel series will air later this year on BBC.
