The BBC Is Working On A Call The Midwife Film

Filming is underway on series 15, but the BBC has revealed even more exciting news for the Call the Midwife universe: a film is in the works. Here’s everything we know so far.

Call The Midwife Film: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More

Joyce Highland (RENEE BAILEY) & Trixie Aylward (HELEN GEORGE) in Call the Midwife series 14. (© BBC/Neal Street Productions/Olly Courtney)

What Will Happen?

It seems the Call the Midwife film will whisk our beloved characters to a new location, according to the franchise’s creator and writer, Heidi Thomas OBE. ‘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,’ Heidi teases. ‘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!’

As with the TV series, the BBC’s female power-trio will helm the Call the Midwife film. This includes writer and showrunner Heidi Thomas along with executive producers Pippa Harris and Ann Tricklebank.

‘We have all been delighted by the way in which audiences have continued to embrace Heidi’s imaginative and moving stories from Nonnatus House,’ says executive producer Dame Pippa Harris DBE. ‘In an increasingly competitive viewing environment not only have our loyal fans stayed with us for 14 years, but they’ve been joined by a new, younger generation who have also fallen in love with our characters and the challenges they face. Emboldened by this warmth and enthusiasm, now feels like the right time to expand our world and take our nuns and midwives onto the big screen with our movie.’

Who Will Star?

No official news just yet, but Heidi’s suggestion that our ‘much-loved regulars’ will be taking ‘a short break from Poplar’ implies our core cast will star in the film, alongside some fresh faces. We expect this to include Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan, Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne, Laura Main as Shelagh Turner and Helen George as Trixie Aylward.

‘Call the Midwife has always brilliantly explored the issues and experiences of women across history,’ says BBC Film’s director Eva Yates. ‘it is with great excitement that we are joining Pippa and Heidi in expanding the Midwife universe to bring these wonderful characters onto the big screen.’

Joyce Highland (RENEE BAILEY) & Rosalind Clifford (NATALIE QUARRY) in Call the Midwife series 14. (© BBC/Neal Street Productions/Olly Courtney)

Will It Replace Series 16?

No, the Call the Midwife film is an addition to the franchise and it seems will not replace or wrap up the TV series. Call the Midwife series 16 is expected to air, as usual, with a Christmas special at the end of 2026, followed by eight new episodes at the start of 2027.

The news of the film coincides with new series 15 details, as well as the news that a Call the Midwife prequel TV series is in the works. In short, the Nonnatus House action is far from over.

Call The Midwife Film Release Date

No news just yet on when the Call the Midwife film will be released, but we expect a 2027 launch, perhaps between series 16 and 17, if the latter gets the green light.

WATCH

All 14 series of Call the Midwife are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

In the US, Call the Midwife is available to stream on PBS.