Call the Midwife has confirmed a new series is in the works, but when could it air and who might return? The BBC period drama delivered a deeply moving series 15 earlier this year, prompting viewers to question when fresh episodes would arrive.
Plot and Setting
Set in 1971, the most recent chapter presented fresh obstacles for Nonnatus House against the backdrop of developments in the National Health Service. Social transformation emerged through the women's liberation movement, though tragedy struck when Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) passed away from chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure. After local council funding was slashed, Nonnatus House faced temporary closure, with the midwives and nuns scattering to different positions while they contemplated their future paths. Yet it wasn't entirely bleak, as Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) and Rosalind Clifford (Natalie Quarry) tied the knot in a touching ceremony.
Will There Be a Season 16?
Call the Midwife has announced that series 16 will grace television screens. Nevertheless, the episodes have been delayed to accommodate a prequel series, Sisters in Arms, anticipated to launch during the festive season. The mini-series unfolds during the London Blitz and will feature younger versions of beloved characters, Sisters Julienne, Monica Joan, and Evangelina, previously portrayed by Jenny Agutter, Judy Parfitt, and Pam Ferris. The familiar Sisters will be joined by three new young midwives entering the East End throughout World War Two. Call the Midwife is also preparing a feature film set overseas in 1972, which will follow series 15.
During the final episode broadcast in March, Sister Julienne revealed to the midwives that Nonnatus House's operations would be "altered." She declared: "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 subsequently hinted at three potential filming locations for the movie when she disclosed plans to participate in a fresh one-year medical mission. She continued: "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." Consequently, series 16 may build upon narrative threads established within the film. The forthcoming series is anticipated to explore the 1970s more deeply, showcasing significant transformations within the NHS and a potential move for the team.
When Will Series 16 Premiere?
Series creator Heidi Thomas revealed to Radio Times magazine that "it takes 14 months to make every series," suggesting viewers may face a considerable wait for series 16. Neal Street Productions confirmed in an official statement: "As previously announced, there are two Christmas specials, a new series, a film, and a prequel series, before a sixteenth series in due course. Call the Midwife isn't going anywhere." The new series could feasibly debut in 2028, though nothing has been officially confirmed.
Who Might Return for Series 16?
During series 15, Lady Trixie Aylward (Helen George) took up a position at The Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair, while Joyce (Renee Bailey) secured employment at St Cuthbert's. Whether these two characters will feature again remains unclear, as the BBC has yet to confirm their future involvement in the programme. Viewers could anticipate seeing the following cast members in the upcoming 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
- Dame Vanessa Redgrave as the voice of Jennifer Worth
Call the Midwife is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
