Call The Midwife comes to emotional end after 15 years as prequel announced
The last episodes of the long-running show will be released early next year after a two-part Christmas special.
Period drama Call The Midwife is ending after 15 years, with its final series to air next year. The BBC show follows the story of the members of Nonnatus House and features countless beloved characters.
Its final series will air early next year following a two-part Christmas special. But it has now been revealed that this 15th series of the popular show will be its last.
"After years of drama and countless births, Call The Midwife is coming to an end. The team have decided it's time to draw the show to a close and bow out.
"This is the last we'll see of these much-loved characters. Storylines will tie up a lot of loose ends," a source told the Daily Star as filming continues on the 15th and final series.
But fans will be relieved to know that there is a prequel series on its way, which will replace the original BBC show.
A source added: "The prequel series will be very different to Call The Midwife, but it will still have the same magic.
"The storylines will be inspired by true events and there will be some fantastic new characters for viewers to fall in love with. The writers are also open to the idea of reviving Call The Midwife for a special one day in the future. It's a case of never say never."
The prequel series was announced just weeks ago, with creator Heidi Thomas promising "familiar faces" would be making an appearance in the hit show - just much younger than they are now.
She 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. 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."
A Call the Midwife film is also in the works, and this will be set overseas in 1972, featuring some of the biggest characters from the original series.
Heidi had previously hinted she would be resting the show at some point - but vowed it would continue in some way.
"Those of us who are most invested with the show - who have been there since the beginning, it is our lives.
"I don't believe Call the Midwife will ever end. But I do think we might take a break at some point," she said.
"There is a sort of a rolling, ongoing conversation that we always have at this point every year, which is: is there an end point? What are we working towards?
"Increasingly, we do see opportunities to expand our storytelling world. So if we do take a break, it will be with a view to looking at other aspects of Call the Midwife."
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