In the past couple of days, fans of Heidi Thomas’ Call the Midwife have been basking in the glory of the announcement that filming had begun on the upcoming Christmas special and 2026’s Season 15. Although some worried fans questioned the absence of Sister Monica Joan’s Judy Parfitt from the production image, there was still plenty of reason to celebrate as the BBC delivered on their promise for more, just as well as the midwives and nuns of Nonnatus House deliver babies.
Well, for those fans already in jubilant spirits, prepare to smile even harder, as the news has officially broken that Call the Midwife is expanding, with an official spin-off series and a movie on their way. Cited via Radio Times, the announcement confirms that a prequel to the beloved show is in the works, set in Poplar during the Second World War, as well as a feature-length movie currently in development, which will feature stars from the current series on an overseas trip in 1972. Not only this, but Season 16 is also in the works with executive producers Thomas, Pippa Harris, and Ann Tricklebank back at the helm, marking a huge day for those dedicated fans who haven’t missed a minute for fourteen seasons and counting.
The ‘Call the Midwife’ Characters Deserve This Change of Scenery
Having watched them grow and deal with profound life-changing drama throughout the show’s fourteen seasons to date, the lives of those in Poplar feel rooted in their location, with every turn of a corner reminding both them and viewers of emotional moments. With that in mind, it feels only natural to let the group fly their proverbial nest in time for a feature-length production, with the chance to tell a story almost entirely different from what has come before certainly enticing. Speaking in a statement about the next steps in Call the Midwife‘s journey, creator Thomas said, “The opening of new doors at Nonnatus House feels profoundly emotional, and yet just right. I have never run out of stories for our midwives, and I never will. But having wept, laughed, and raged my way from 1957 to 1971, I found myself yearning to delve into the deeper past.” She continued, “The Blitz years in the East End were extraordinary – filled with loss, togetherness, courage and joy. The bombs fell, the babies kept on coming, and the Sisters kept on going. There will be so much in the prequel for our wonderful, loyal fans, including the appearance of some familiar (if much younger!) faces.” Thomas then added:
“As the classic Call the Midwife series moves further into the 1970s, it also seems the perfect time for our much-loved regulars to take a short break from Poplar and test themselves in an unfamiliar landscape. The rise in hospital births, and changes in the NHS, have clipped their wings, and this is their chance to take flight and work out what really matters. Whilst the location of the film remains top-secret, I can say it is going to look absolutely fantastic on the big screen!”
Call the Midwife returns with a Christmas special later this year.
via Collider