Well, it’s almost time for our favourite midwives to return to our screens.
Earlier this year, Call the Midwife season 10 came to an end after seven episodes– one less than usual, for which we can only blame coronavirus.
However, fans are delighted as the Call the Midwife 2021 Christmas special is on its way this festive season and for a feature-length running time as part of the BBC Christmas TV line-up.
That’s not all, as fans of the hit BBC One series will not have long to wait before the new episodes arrive.
So, without further ado, RadioTimes.com has gathered all you need to know about Call the Midwife season 11.
Call the Midwife season 11 release date
Call the Midwife season 11 will begin on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 2nd January 2022.
This means the new episodes will arrive only eight days after the feature-length Call the Midwife Christmas special airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
NEWS!! @BBC announces that our new Series 11 of #CallTheMidwife will begin on Sunday January 2nd on @BBCOne!! Only eight days to wait after our Christmas Special xxx pic.twitter.com/aJTQKxxd8Y
— Call the Midwife (@CallTheMidwife1) December 9, 2021
The news of the show’s return date was revealed on Thursday, 9th December 2022 in a tweet from the show’s official Twitter account.
In the meantime, fans can catch up on previous episodes on BBC iPlayer.
Call the Midwife season 11 cast
!["Call]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/11/call-the-midwife-christmas-special-2021-59f398c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Call")
The regular Call the Midwife cast shall be returning following the latest festive special.
That includes our favourite characters: Nurse Trixie Franklin (Helen George), Nurse Lucille Anderson (Leonie Elliott), Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) (Sister Julienne), Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt), and Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett).
Other actors to return for the new episodes include Stephen McGann (Dr Turner), Laura Main (Shelagh Turner), Cliff Parisi (Fred Buckle), Annabel Apsion (Violet Buckle), Daniel Laurie (Reggie), Zephryn Taitte (Cyril Robinson), Ella Bruccoleri (Sister Frances), Fenella Woolgar (Sister Hilda), and Georgie Glen (Miss Higgins).
We can also now reveal that Megan Cusack will return as Nancy Corrigan, Nonnatus House’s resident pupil midwife who arrived in season 10.
Miriam Margolyes also remains in the cast of Call the Midwife as Mother Mildred, even though she did not appear on screen in season 10; presumably, for COVID-related reasons, all her interactions took place down the telephone line.
However, given that the legendary Margolyes plays an active role in the festive special, she shall be back full-time in the eleventh run.
Further guest stars for the Christmas special and season 11 will be confirmed in due course.
What will happen in Call the Midwife season 11?
We don’t have any official details yet. However, we can take a quick look at what happened in 1967, when season 11 will be set.
Firstly, there were a couple of big legislative changes which Call the Midwife will certainly cover. The Abortion Act 1967 was passed towards the end of the year, legalising abortion in a wide range of cases; this is sure to have a big impact on the women of Poplar, and on the work of the midwives at Nonnatus House.
The second significant change was the Sexual Offences Act 1967, which came into effect in July. The Act permitted “homosexual acts” between two consenting adults over the age of 21, and was a considerable milestone, even if it did not ensure equality in law.
This was also the year when the UK and Republic of Ireland applied for European Economic Community membership (a precursor to the EU); the Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band; Bond film You Only Live Twice premiered; colour television began on BBC Two; and Norwell Roberts became the first Black officer in London’s Met Police.
How many more seasons of Call the Midwife will there be?
!["Call]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/06/Helen-George-in-Call-the-Midwife-73d0c06.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Call")
Fans will be delighted to hear that the future of Call the Midwife is secure! Aside from season 11 (2022), the show has already been re-commissioned by the BBC for season 12 (2023) and season 13 (2024).
The seasons will each consist of eight one-hour episodes, plus a feature-length Christmas special. This also means that the story will continue until at least the end of 1969, and potentially into the 1970s.
Creator, writer and executive producer Heidi Thomas said: “It’s an incredible privilege to be able to look back on a decade of Call The Midwife, and yet know that our journey is still very far from over. We are thrilled to be going on for a few more years!
“Like Nonnatus House itself, we have a proud past but an even more exciting future – full of old favourites, fresh faces, higher hemlines, new ideas. The stories we tell are like babies – they never stop coming, we love them all, and we vow to do our best by every single one.”
Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama, added: “The enduring popularity of Call The Midwife is a testament to the extraordinary love and creativity from its creator Heidi Thomas and its producers Pippa Harris and Ann Tricklebank. We are delighted to have secured the future of Call The Midwife for two further series beyond those which are currently in production, and look forward to enjoying more adventures for the inhabitants of Nonnatus House for years to come.”
Call the Midwife seasons 1-10 are available on BBC iPlayer.
Looking for something else to watch? Check out the rest of our Drama coverage or take a look at our TV Guide.