‘Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms’ Filming Wraps — First Look at the Cast
After 15 seasons, Call the Midwife is preparing to turn back the clock. While the Season 15 finale marked the end of Nonnatus House‘s time as a maternity home, with the National Health Service forcing it to become a house of prayer and charity and the midwives hanging a “temporarily closed” sign on the door, the story of Poplar is far from over.
The BBC has announced a new Call the Midwife prequel series set during World War II, exploring the East End during the Blitz decades before the events of the original drama. And now, filming on the three-part special has officially wrapped, with the BBC marking the occasion by releasing new photos of the cast on set.
According to creator and showrunner Heidi Thomas OBE, the series will “delve into the deeper past” of Poplar and feature “some familiar (if much younger) faces,” giving viewers the chance to see beloved characters during one of the most formative periods of their lives. Titled Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms, the series will feature a fresh cast and a new direction, but familiar characters that fans have come to treasure.
The newly released photos offer the first look at Julie Hesmondhalgh, Helena Wilson, Ellie McKay, Liv Andrusier, and Lizzie Back on set. The special is set to arrive on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas.
Thomas explained in a statement, “Having loved and lived with the Sisters of Nonnatus House for so many years, I found myself longing to turn the clock back and tell the story of their finest hour – the Blitz. Who were Sister Monica Joan, Sister Julienne, and Sister Evangelina, when they were young? What did they do, how did they survive, and how did the conflict change them?”
Here is everything we know about the prequel series so far.
Neal Street/BBC
When will Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms premiere?
Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms will premiere on Christmas Day 2026. The highly anticipated three-part spinoff series will serve as the festive holiday feature on BBC One, rather than the show’s traditional Christmas special.
What is Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms about?
According to the official logline: “In September 1939, Sister Monica Joan is in her prime, Sister Julienne and Sister Evangelina are young and zealous, and Nonnatus House is the beating heart of Poplar. Together with Sister Alice and local GP Dr Kit, the nuns dedicate their lives to mothers, babies, and the poor. But there is no gas and air, no penicillin, no cure for TB, and no welfare state. Then war is declared — and life gets even harder.”
Who stars in Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms?
Julie Hesmondhalgh will guest star as Sister Alice alongside Amy Booth-Steel, who plays Sister Evangelina; Helen Schlesinger stars as Sister Monica Joan, and Helena Wilson as Sister Julienne. Dr. Kit Malhotra is played by Bally Gill.
Image: BBC/Neal Street
Martin McCann guest stars as Tommy Moffat with Rachel O’Connell as his wife, Mary. Marianne Siegler is played by Liv Andrusier, Sybil Maxted by Lizzie Back, and Olive Dobbs by Ellie McKay. Ciaran Bowling stars as Fred Buckle and Ami Metcalf as his wife, Betty, with Ben Rose as Dr Patrick Turner.
Jenny Agutter will narrate as the older Sister Julienne.
Who is behind Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms?
The series is headed by the Call the Midwife creative team, including showrunner, writer, and executive producer Heidi Thomas, with executive producers Pippa Harris for Neal Street and Ann Tricklebank. It is commissioned by Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, and made by All3Media’s Neal Street for the BBC. Ann Tricklebank will direct Episodes 1 and 2, with John Maidens directing Episode 3. Jo McClellan is the executive producer for the BBC. BBC Studios is handling global sales.
Conversation25 Comments
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B
What a great Christmas gift to a broken world! A young Sister Monica Joan is something I am eager to see!
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L
I am so excited for this, cant wait to see sister Monica Joan as a young woman 😍
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D
I’m so excited for this. I have watched Call the Midwife 4 times now and will probably watch it again until I can get season 15. Absolutely one of my all time favorite shows.
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I
Will the Christmas Special Sister in Arms debuted in the US ?
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D
No!!! How will we know what happens to Trixie, the sisters, Violet, Reggie and the Turner family??? I am completely heartbroken.
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S
I do believe it's coming back in 2027
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M
It is coming back next year
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S
I ve missed the show so much. I turn it on every night and watch it once again from beginning to end. I can’t stop my anxiety without it.
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T
I live in Texas and would like to know when the 15th season of call the midwife will be put on Netflix
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M
You can watch it on PBS season 15
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T
I watched Season 15 on PBS - I'm in the US and couldn't wait until it was released here... I had to donate $5 but it was worth it to me... Once they're all available to stream, you only have to donate one month...
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P
It usually comes to netflix in Sept.
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D
I can’t wait. I have watched this series 4 times and am waiting to get the season 15. I don’t know when it will be available. And now a new series. Wow, I can’t wait.
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T
I can send them all to you if you want free
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D
That would be wonderful
Thank you
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D
Can't wait!!
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T
YES YES YAY YAY YAY 👏
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L
I'm so excited, I'm in the US and am a big fan of this show!
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J
How wonderful
Cant wait to see this and lovely time to launch on Christmas day.
Would love to see season 15 call the midwife in Australia either on netflix or television
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M
Can’t wait!!!!!
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B
Thank you I am excited
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A
I'm so excited!!! I'm really look forward to watching it and I might get the complete series of Call The Midwife when it comes out on DVD for when they inevitably take it off of Netflix.
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M
Will we be seeing it on PBS? Sounds really good
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T
How exciting to get a call the midwife fix at Christmas
I was dreading not seeing a special this year
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B
When will season 14 be on Netflix? I've watched all the season's over like 4 times... 💓. Love the show.i live in DeKalb Illinois USA.
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