A Call The Midwife Prequel Is In The Works

Filming is underway on Call The Midwife series 15, comprising a two-part Christmas special straddling Hong Kong and London, followed by an eight-part series in January 2026. But that’s not all: a prequel series is also in the works, slated for release in 2026. Here’s everything you need to know.

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

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

What Will Happen?

The BBC’s upcoming Call The Midwife prequel will whisk us back to World War II and, as always, centre on the happenings at Nonnatus House. Heidi Thomas OBE, creator and writer, says: ‘The opening of new doors at Nonnatus House feels profoundly emotional, and yet just right,’ says Call the Midwife’s creator and writer, Heidi Thomas OBE. ‘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,’ Heidi says. ‘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.’

As always, the series will be created by the BBC’s female power-trio: writer and showrunner Heidi Thomas along with executive producers Pippa Harris and Ann Tricklebank.

‘Call the Midwife has been a jewel in the BBC’s crown for well over a decade, and this feels like the perfect time to further expand on the glorious, perfectly realised world that Heidi, Pippa, Annie and the team have created for the show’s millions of passionate and dedicated viewers,’ says the BBC’s director of drama, Lindsay Salt. ‘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.’

Winnie Welch (MAGGIE MUSGROVE) & Mr Parry (PAUL BIGLEY) in Call the Midwife series 14. (© BBC/Neal Street Productions/Olly Courtney)

Who Will Star?

No news just yet on the cast of the Call the Midwife prequel, but we expect a whole host of fresh faces. However, creator Heidi has teased some ‘familiar (if much younger!) faces’ will star, so we can expect some younger versions of the characters we know and love to star.

Call The Midwife Prequel Release Date

The Call the Midwife prequel is slated to air on the BBC in 2026. With the regular series airing every December to March, the prequel might air in autumn to space the action out.

Before that, Call the Midwife series 15 will launch with a two-part Christmas special on Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2025, followed by eight regular episodes from January 2026.

And after, the BBC has revealed it is also working on a Call the Midwife film.

Colette Corrigan (FRANCESCA FULLILOVE) & Sister Monica Joan (JUDY PARFITT) in Call the Midwife series 14. (© BBC/Neal Street Productions/Olly Courtney)

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.