BBC preps Call the Midwife Xmas double

FIRST LOOK: Call the Midwife will return to the BBC this Christmas with, for the first time, a two-part festive story.

Two 60-minute episodes will air over the Christmas period, rather than its traditional 90-minute special, with a story set in 1969.

The funfair comes to Poplar, adding a burst of colour and excitement to the frosty landscape but there are other visitors to the borough – including influenza and the Hong Kong flu. While preparations for a carol concert are underway, the neighbourhood is gripped by the news of an escaped prisoner and fears grow that he may be in the local area after a spate of break-ins.

The Turner children are caught up in the fever surrounding the Blue Peter Christmas appeal to collect dinky cars and scrap metal. Trixie makes a fleeting visit to Nonnatus House and is delighted to see her brother Geoffrey, and Miss Higgins has her grandson Harry stay for Christmas. Violet hosts a mince pie competition but the Buckles’ preparations for Reggie’s homecoming are thrown into turmoil.

Production is already well underway on the next, 14th season of Call the Midwife, which consists of the two Christmas specials this year, followed by eight new episodes launching in early 2025 on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and on Masterpiece PBS in North America. Season 15 has already been commissioned.

Returning cast include Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan, Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne, Laura Main as Shelagh Turner, Helen George as Trixie Aylward, Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle, Stephen McGann as Dr Turner, Linda Bassett as Nurse Crane, Megan Cusack as Nancy Corrigan, Annabelle Apsion as Violet Buckle, Georgie Glen as Miss Higgins, Zephryn Taitte as Cyril Robinson, Rebecca Gethings as Sister Veronica, Daniel Laurie as Reggie Jackson, Renee Bailey as Joyce Highland, Natalie Quarry as Rosalind Clifford, Alice Brown as Angela Turner, Francesca Fullilove as Colette Corrigan, April Rae Hoang as May Tang and Edward Shaw as Teddy Turner.

Call the Midwife is made by Neal Street Productions for the BBC in coproduction with PBS in the US. The series is created, written and executive produced by Heidi Thomas, executive produced by Pippa Harris for Neal Street Productions, and Ann Tricklebank who is also the producer. Gaynor Holmes is the executive producer for the BBC.

BBC Studios distribute Call the Midwife globally.

tagged in: BBC iPlayer, BBC One, BBC Studios, Call the Midwife, Heidi Thomas, PBS