For the first time, this year's Christmas Call the Midwife will be a two-part special.
The Call the Midwife Christmas special is one of the most popular dramas on TV over the festive period and has become a Christmas tradition in itself, and this year is no different, with the BBC serving up not just one, but two episodes as part of a two-part special.
Traditionally, Call the Midwife has treated fans to a 90-minute Christmas special, but this year’s festive trip to Poplar will consist of two 60-minute episodes, complete with a Christmas cliffhanger!
All the regular, well-loved characters will return for a Christmas set in 1969 where the Nonnatus midwives are in their element, all busy delivering babies and doing the job they are most dedicated and committed to.
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.
As Poplar also prepares for a carol concert, 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.
Speaking ahead of this year's Christmas special, Heidi Thomas OBE, creator and writer said "Who doesn’t love finding an extra, unexpected present underneath the Christmas tree? When I was asked to write a two-part Christmas special for 2024, I couldn’t resist!"
To which executive producer Dame Pippa Harris, added "For the first time viewers can luxuriate in a two part festive treat this Christmas. Heidi has created a spellbinding special which I know will delight our loyal fans."
And Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said "Call the Midwife has become one of UK television’s most popular festive traditions, and this year we wanted to go even better with Call the Midwife’s biggest Christmas ever! Heidi and the team have lined up an absolute treat, with two irresistible episodes packed full of everything fans will love about this very special series at Christmas time."
Regular cast returning are: 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.
Production is already well underway on the next series of Call the Midwife, which consists of the two Christmas specials this year, followed by eight new episodes launching in early 2025.
A further series, Call the Midwife’s fifteenth, has already been commissioned, meaning that the multiple award-winning drama will be on air until at least 2026.
Made by All3Media’s Neal Street Productions for the BBC in co-production with PBS, Call the Midwife is created, written and executive produced by Heidi Thomas, executive produced by Pippa Harris, for Neal Street Productions and Ann Tricklebank who also serves as producer. Gaynor Holmes is the executive producer for the BBC.
Call the Midwife returns this Christmas on BBC One
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