BBC Call The Midwife to take break as show announces two huge spin-offs
BBC's hit series Call the Midwife, a Sunday night favourite for chilly UK winters since 2012, is set to pause its usual programming after its upcoming series. Instead, audiences can look forward to a war-set prequel featuring younger incarnations of beloved characters and a separate feature film destined for cinema screens.
Viewers will be transported back to the Blitz as the prequel delves into the lives of characters during World War II, potentially including younger portrayals of Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter), Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt), Dr Turner (Stephen McGann), and Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi). Fans may also see a return of Sister Evangelina, played by Pam Ferris until her character's death in season five.
The forthcoming action predates the original series, which drew from Jennifer Worth's real-life tales of midwifery set in 1957, by at least 15 years.
Meanwhile, the cinematic venture will feature familiar faces from the current lineup, with possible comebacks such as Miranda Hart as Chummy and Miriam Margolyes as Mother Mildred—alongside potential guest stars, reports the Mirror.
There's industry buzz about Joanna Lumley gracing the habit, with one source exclaiming: "Joanna Lumley as a nun? Now that's something I'd like to see."
Set in 1972, the motion picture will take the nuns and nurses away from Poplar as hospital births burgeon, possibly to exotic locales akin to Hong Kong—this year's two-part Christmas special setting—or South Africa, revisiting a past destination from 2016.
The East End borough of Poplar, along with Nonnatus House, will remain a consistent element throughout the various new extensions of the franchise.
Show insiders have emphasised that these fresh ventures do not indicate the conclusion of the original series, which they promise will continue "in due course" once the additional projects are completed.
Dame Pippa Harris, Executive Producer, expressed: "It now feels like the right time to expand our world and take our nuns and midwives onto the big screen with our movie, and back in time with the prequel."
Writer Heidi Thomas shared her enthusiasm: "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 further elaborated on the forthcoming prequel: "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."
Discussing the upcoming movie, Thomas revealed: "It seems the perfect time for our much-loved regulars to take a short break from Poplar and test themselves in an unfamiliar landscape. Changes in the NHS have clipped their wings, and this is their chance to take flight. Whilst the location remains top-secret, I can say it is going to look absolutely fantastic on the big screen."
The period drama will start its 15th series in January, set in 1971. Early scenes see the nurses of Nonnatus House embracing feminist protests, reflecting the women's lib movement that gained momentum at that time.
Meanwhile, throughout the year, the medical team tackles various challenging cases such as placenta previa, tuberculosis, slavery, kidney cancer, and premature births.
BBC drama boss Lindsay Salt said: "Whether you've been watching from the very start or joined us for one of the more recent series, this is an incredibly exciting time to be a Call the Midwife fan."
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