#ctm interviews

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Call the Midwife confirms surprise double Christmas episode in first look

"Who doesn't love finding an extra, unexpected present underneath the Christmas tree?"

For the first time in its history, Call the Midwife fans have a two-part Christmas special to look forward to ahead of new episodes in the New Year.

Rather than the traditional 90-minute instalment, the BBC has confirmed that there will be two 60-minute episodes, which will also include a Christmas cliffhanger.

"Who doesn't love finding an extra, unexpected present underneath the Christmas tree?" said creator and writer Heidi Thomas OBE.

"When I was asked to write a two-part Christmas special for 2024, I couldn't resist!"

Executive producer Dame Pippa Harris added: "For the first time, viewers can luxuriate in a two-part festive treat this Christmas. Heidi has created a spellbinding special which I know will delight our loyal fans."

Director of BBC Drama Lindsay Salt hailed Call the Midwife as "one of UK television's most popular festive traditions".

She continued: "And this year we wanted to go even better, with Call the Midwife's biggest Christmas ever!

"Heidi and the team have lined up an absolute treat, with two irresistible episodes packed full of everything fans will love about this very special series at Christmas time."

All of the "well-loved characters" will be back for the two-parter, which picks up in Christmas 1969.

The midwives are "all busy delivering babies and doing the job they are most dedicated and committed to", while Poplar also welcomes a funfair, which adds "a burst of colour and excitement to the frosty landscape".

But there will be challenges, including influenza and the Hong Kong flu, not to mention an escaped prisoner.

As the neighbourhood prepares for a carol concert, "fears grow that he may be in the local area after a spate of break-ins".

Elsewhere, "the Turner children are caught up in the fever surrounding the Blue Peter Christmas appeal to collect dinky cars and scrap metal, Trixie makes a fleeting visit to Nonnatus House and is delighted to see her brother Geoffrey, and Miss Higgins has her grandson Harry stay for Christmas".

Violet also has her hands full hosting a mince pie competition, "but the Buckles' preparations for Reggie’s homecoming are thrown into turmoil".

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Call the Midwife star was always planning to return to show amid exit rumours

She won't be going anywhere anytime soon!

Helen George has put to bed rumours of her exit from Call the Midwife, after the season 13 finale threw doubt on her character's return to Poplar for season 14. [...] Since March, there have been plenty of rumours around whether George would remain the series, and when asked the question by virginradio.co.uk, she certainly put those rumours to bed.

"I was always planning to come back," she put it simply.

She continued: "And I guess it's quite a return for Trixie, because she's coming back sans-husband, so that's an interesting twist."

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Call The Midwife: 2024 Christmas Special Preview

Here are the previews of the CTM CS from the recent UK TV magazines:

30 November - 6 December 2024

TV Times

Radio Times

TV & Satellite Week

What’s On TV

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Call the Midwife stars tease "tears and laughter" in 2024 Christmas special

Stephen McGann and Rebecca Gethings speak with RadioTimes.com on the red carpet at this year's NTAs.

Call the Midwife stars tease "tears and laughter" in 2024 Christmas special

Stephen McGann and Rebecca Gethings speak with RadioTimes.com on the red carpet at this year's NTAs.

[...]

Asked about what fans can expect from this year's special, McGann said: "It is all the fun of the fair and also the normal kind of darkness you would expect with Call the Midwife."

Meanwhile, Gethings teased: "There will be tears and laughter, it's heartwarming as always. It's about community but yeah, they're always tested at Christmas, it's not just about cuddles and Horlicks."

McGann then added: "And it's a very special episode, Christmas for us in our show, and that's the one people particularly respond to. I think it comes in as part of the festival and the year, which we're incredible flattered by, but it makes it that bit more special. Christmas is a special one."

McGann also spoke about what it means to see the show included on this year's shortlist at the NTAs, explaining: "It's lovely! I'm amazed, because it's always done by the public, and we were just saying, [the fact] that we get through like this after so many years, that we're even shortlisted, it's something we never, ever take for granted.

"And a message for everyone who did vote for us: thank you very much. It does mean a lot to us. We love our show, but we love it when people respond in that wonderful way."

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Call the Midwife: Magazine Round Up - 13x08

Here are the CTM features and synopses of in the latest UK TV Magazines:

2 - 8 March 2024

TV Times

Radio Times

TV & Satellite Week

What's On TV

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Call the Midwife: Magazine Round Up - 13x01

Here are the CTM features and synopses of in the latest UK TV Magazines:

6-12 January 2024

TV Times

Radio Times

TV & Satellite Week

What's on TV

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Call the Midwife 2024 Christmas Special - Radio Times Articles

A flurry of articles have come out from Radio Times about the upcoming Christmas Special:

Call the Midwife star promises "dark" Christmas double bill has humour too

"Life doesn't stop for Christmas."

Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press about the upcoming Christmas episode, Jenny Agutter (who plays Sister Julienne) said: "For me, when I read it, I was very touched by it. It’s quite Dickensian.

"It is quite dark, but in with that is a lot of humour and a lot of humanity, and that's what lightens it.

"It's just the recognition that we’re in difficult times, we've been in difficult times, we always were in difficult times. It just recognises that."

Similarly, Shelagh Turner star Laura Main said: "I think it also feels really apt as a Christmas story to not just be full of joy and cheer, because life doesn't stop for Christmas.

"Life can be difficult, and so that's reflected in the story. To take a moment to think of others, and see people serving others, is a nice message at Christmas."

Teasing a little more about some of the stories set to unfold, Agutter went on: "Well, the homeless family is absolutely soul-destroying, just watching that happen, people evicted from their places. And we know that's happening today.

"As you say, life goes on and Christmas doesn't make it easier. It is for some, but not for everybody."

Call the Midwife star on Miss Higgins's grandson: 'She’ll never be the same again'

"A fundamental change has happened in her life."

"When I did interviews after the storyline last year, I sort of said it was like a little spotlight had shone on her past, and then it would go out again and life would carry on as normal," [Georgie] Glen told RadioTimes.com and other press.

"And I realised as soon as I came back, of course it can't carry on as normal, that I'm actually the same person, but in a very different position now because a few people are privy to it, Dr Turner and Nurse Crane, and I'm never going to be the same again because a fundamental change has happened in her life."

Glen went on to say that for Miss Higgins, it's now about navigating "a new reality within that new discovery because... she's lived a long life just with the grief and the memory of what happened".

"And although her son has now died, she has at least been reunited with him and she has gained his son, and her life is enriched by that," added Glen.

"It's changed her life completely."

Call the Midwife star says things "get out of control" for the Buckles in Christmas special

"It reminds them how vulnerable he can be."

[There is] trouble ahead for Reggie Jackson (Daniel Laurie) as he continues to explore his newfound independence.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press, Cliff Parisi (Fred Buckle) said: "Normally Reggie's been really sheltered by Vi and Fred, but they've kind of started to try and grant him a little bit more independence as he's gotten older.

"So when we do a job together, he gets a separate pay packet with his own name on it. He's now becoming a young man, and they're trying to respect that and trying to make him more responsible."

But of course, that comes with risks.

"On this particular occasion, things get out of control," he continued. "I think it does remind them how vulnerable he can be. Things are all right when they go right, but if they go wrong, he doesn't have another option. He doesn't know what to do."

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Call the Midwife: Magazine Round Up - 13x03

Here are the CTM features and synopses of in the latest UK TV Magazines:

20-26 January 2024

TV Times

Radio Times

TV & Satellite Week

What's on TV