A Two-Part Call The Midwife Christmas Special Is Coming

‘Call the Midwife has become one of UK television’s most popular festive traditions,’ says Lindsay Salt, the director of BBC Drama. We couldn’t agree more: getting tucked up on the sofa after a long day of eating, drinking and celebrating, switching the channel to BBC One and returning to the lives of our familiar favourites never gets old. Last year, the Call the Midwife Christmas special centred on Apollo 8 circling the moon, and segued neatly into series 13 which commenced in January.

‘This year, we wanted to go even better with Call the Midwife’s biggest Christmas ever,’ Lindsay says. ‘Heidi [Thomas, series creator and writer] 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.’

That’s right: a Call the Midwife double bill will come to BBC One this Christmas; here’s what to expect.

What To Expect From The Call The Midwife Christmas Special 2024

For the first time in its 12 years on TV, after 12 Christmas specials traditionally running for 90 minutes, we’re in for a bumper festive treat this Christmas: a Call the Midwife double bill. That’s two hour-long episodes, providing fans with a sprinkling of cheer – as well as a Christmas cliffhanger that will feed into series 14 in the New Year.

‘Who doesn’t love finding an extra, unexpected present underneath the Christmas tree?’ asks series creator and writer Heidi Thomas OBE. ‘When I was asked to write a two-part Christmas special for 2024, I couldn’t resist!’

Miss Higgins (GEORGIE GLEN), Cyril Robinson (ZEPHRYN TAITTE), Sister Veronica (REBECCA GETHINGS), Nancy Corrigan (MEGAN CUSACK), Trixie Aylward (HELEN GEORGE), Mrs Wallace (LINDA HARGREAVES), Sister Julienne (JENNY AGUTTER), Geoffrey Franklin (CHRISTOPHER HARPER), Violet Buckle (ANNABELLE APSION), Dr Turner (STEPHEN MCGANN), Joyce Highland (RENEE BAILEY), Rosalind Clifford (NATALIE QUARRY), Nurse Crane (LINDA BASSETT) in the Call the Midwife Christmas special. (BBC/Neal Street Productions/Olly Courtney)

What Will Happen?

It’s 1969 and we’re back in Poplar to catch up with the lives of our favourite characters. The Nonnatus midwives are in their element, busy delivering an abundance of babies, while a funfair brings a burst of colour and excitement to the frosty landscape. New visitors pass through the borough – including the influenza and the Hong Kong flu. And that’s not all: an escaped prisoner is on the loose nearby and a spate of break-ins has everyone on edge.

‘The Turner children are caught up in the fever surrounding the Blue Peter Christmas appeal to collect dinky cars and scrap metal,’ the BBC teases. ‘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.’ As always, then, there’s plenty going on.

Angela Turner (ALICE BROWN), Teddy Turner (EDWARD SHAW), Dr Turner (STEPHEN MCGANN), May Tang (APRIL RAE HOANG) in Call the Midwife Christmas special. (BBC/Neal Street Productions/Olly Courtney)

When Is It On TV?

The first part of the Call the Midwife Christmas special will air on Christmas day – the evening of 25 December 2024. No confirmation just yet, but we think part two will air on Boxing Day.

When Will Series 14 Start?

After the Christmas double bill, there’s not long to wait: Call the Midwife series 14 will launch in early 2025 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and on PBS in the US.

Call the Midwife has also already been renewed for season 15, which will air in 2026.

Sister Monica Joan (JUDY PARFITT) and Angela Turner (ALICE BROWN) in Call the Midwife Christmas special. (BBC/Neal Street Productions/Olly Courtney)

The Cast

The returning cast includes:

• 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
• Edward Shaw as Teddy Turner

Where To Watch Call The Midwife

Catch up with all episodes of Call the Midwife on BBC iPlayer.