Following its Christmas special and cast announcement, the BBC has confirmed eight new episodes of Call the Midwife for January 2026. The franchise will further expand with a World War Two prequel series and a feature film set overseas in 1972, as the show maintains strong viewership.
Call the Midwife, based on Jennifer Worth's memoirs and set in London's East End, premiered on BBC One in 2012. Created by Heidi Thomas, it has sustained a dedicated audience, with 2024 episodes averaging 7.8 million viewers and last year's Christmas special drawing 8.9 million.
This year's two-part Christmas special airs on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, featuring stories of displacement in Poplar and a Hong Kong rescue (see related coverage on cast and guests). Jenny Agutter (Sister Julienne) highlighted themes of 'unsteady ground' and upheaval.
The main series continues with eight new hour-long episodes on BBC One and iPlayer from January 2026, advancing the 1970s storyline.
A prequel set in WWII-era Poplar is planned for 2026, depicting younger versions of characters facing the Blitz, loss, and community resilience.
Neal Street Productions and BBC Film are also developing a feature film set abroad in 1972, starring returning cast members amid evolving NHS changes and hospital births.
Heidi Thomas shared: "The opening of new doors at Nonnatus House feels profoundly emotional... The Blitz years... were extraordinary. As the classic series moves further into the 1970s, it also seems the perfect time for our much-loved regulars to take a short break from Poplar... Whilst the location of the film remains top-secret, I can say it is going to look absolutely fantastic on the big screen!"
These developments underscore the show's lasting popularity and its focus on midwifery and social history.
