What happens next in Call The Midwife after finale packed with secret cameos

Call the Midwife fans were left in floods of tears after Sunday night’s season finale saw the nuns say a final goodbye to Sister Monica Joan – but what is next for the hit BBC drama?

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After Sunday night’s emotional Call the Midwife finale left viewers in floods of tears, fans of the period drama are already looking ahead to when their next instalment of the show will be. Although it has already been confirmed that a 16th season is on the cards, the death of Sister Monica Joan, played by Judy Parfitt, and the sign on Nonnatus House announcing its closure felt very final.

Fans of the BBC1 show have known that Sister Monica Joan wouldn’t make it, as she was diagnosed with kidney failure several weeks ago. Doctor Turner warned at the time that his patient had “not long” left. But her emotional send-off left fans of the long-running drama bereft, as she was lead into the afterlife but some of the fellow nuns who had passed before her.

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Will there be another series of Call the Midwife?

There is usually a new series of Call the Midwife to look forward to every January, so there WILL be a 16th season – but it will be delayed, with showrunner Heidi Thomas previously saying it could be by a couple of years. But there is some good news, as fans will have a hit of their favourite nursing drama in Christmas 2026, when a Call the Midwife prequel series will be released.

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It is set to be a three-parter, and will feature younger versions of Sister Evangelina, played by Pam Ferris, Judy as a young Sister Monica Joan and Jenny Agutter’s Sister Julienne. It is expected to air on Christmas Day, giving fans some early festive viewing to look forward to.

The prequel will be set in WWII, in London, with series creator Heidi Thomas telling the Radio Times : “[She] actually isn’t that young when we did the maths, but she’s very much in her prime.”

She also hinted at a theme, saying: “It’s a world where women are not in charge when war breaks out, but very rapidly, they are in charge of everything because the men are called away, either to Home Front-based war work or they go overseas. So you’ll see a lot of women coming into their own… it’s a programme that is going to be about strong women above all else.”

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When will the Call the Midwife film be released?

A movie version for cinema release, set in 1972 and featuring the regular cast, is almost certain to be set Australia – although it’s not certain when it will be release. However, it’s due to be shot at the end of the year, with showrunner Heidi saying: “Australia is likely, I can say that.

“But there are a number of places within Australia where that could be, all of which would be very different. We won’t be making any official announcements until we know exactly.”

One possibility is that Miriam Margolyes will make a welcome return as Mother Mildred, as the actress is based in Australia. Heidi also stressed that a 16th series, picking up in 1973, would follow on TV in due course. “We’re not going anywhere,” she said. “Except for maybe Australia.”

Will Call the Midwife have the same cast?

It’s not certain who will be in season 16, and although Sister Julienne asked for unity, it’s not feasible for many of the characters to continue. Pregnant newlywed Rosalind Robinson, played by Natalie Quarry, and her husband Cyril will be caring for their new family, while Trixie, played by Helen George has negotiated 55 percent of the Lady Emily Clinic for Women and Babies.

With her new role as the clinic’s Matron, and her wife and mother responsibilites, it’s likely she would be staying in Poplar. However, Dr Turner, played by Stephen McGann, will still be running his GP practice. Linda Bassett’s Nurse Crane is likely to still be his district nurse, while Miss Higgins (Georgie Glen) would potentially still play his medical secretary.

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Call the Midwife finale cameos

Sunday’s finale also saw the execs make a series of secret cameos, with them admitting their joy at including them. Showrunner Heidi Thomas could be seen gliding along as a ghostly nun behind Pam, who appeared as the late Sister Evangelina after a decade away to lead her friend Sister Monica Joan to heaven.

Executive producer Dame Pippa Harris also had a go, when she appeared as a mourner in St Oswald’s church during the funeral. Pam, 77, hasn’t featured in the BBC drama since 2016, when her character died suddenly in the finale of series five. But she was back to give guidance and support to her old friend before she died.

Showrunner Heidi Thomas told the Mirror: “Throughout our 15 years on air, I have always said I would appear in the final episode, dressed as a nun – and so I did, even though I was basically a ghost and see-through,” Heidi told the Mirror. “I thought I looked quite good in a wimple, but when my husband (Stephen McGann, who plays Dr Turner) saw me he went white, and said I was the double of the nun who taught him sex education when he was at school.”

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