Filming has resumed on Call The Midwife, with Neal Street Productions beginning to shoot the 2018 Christmas special and 2019’s Call The Midwife series 8 on behalf of BBC One.
We’ve also learned that Miriam Margolyes – who played Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films – will guest star in the Christmas special and the first episode of series 8. She will play Sister Mildred, “a forthright and indefatigable sister from the Order.”
The plot of the Christmas special will see Sister Mildred arriving “unexpectedly at Nonnatus House, her hands full with four Chinese orphans. Having fled China, the child refugees were found abandoned in Hong Kong and are being adopted in the UK as part of the World Refugee Project. With Christmas preparations in full flow and the midwives busy caring for the expectant mothers of Poplar, these unexpected visitors cause joy and chaos in equal measure.”
New cast members for series 8 include Fenella Woolgar (Victoria & Abdul) as Sister Hilda, Ella Bruccoleri (Genius: Picasso) as Sister Frances and Georgie Glen (Waterloo Road) as Miss Higgins, the surgery’s new receptionist.
We’ve also learned that series 8 will consist of eight episodes, and that the plot will kick off thusly:
“At the start of series eight, it’s spring time in 1964 and everyone is excited for the Queen’s Royal birth. Violet is holding a Teddy Bears’ Picnic and raising funds through a competition on whether the Queen will have a boy or a girl. With the additions of the two new Sisters, who have been sent to live and work with the team in Poplar, Nonnatus House feels full once more. The midwives are introduced to their new midwifery bags, much to the distress of an already under the weather Sister Monica Joan who disturbingly absconds from Nonnatus House. Meanwhile, Nurse Crane is braced for a twin delivery but is confident the team can handle this smoothly.”
Returning cast members include Jenny Agutter (Sister Julienne), Linda Bassett (Nurse Crane), Judy Parfitt (Sister Monica Joan), Helen George (Trixie), Laura Main (Shelagh Turner), Victoria Yeates (Sister Winifred), Jennifer Kirby (Valerie), Leonie Elliott (Lucille), Stephen McGann (Dr Turner), Cliff Parisi (Fred), Annabelle Apsion (Violet), Max Macmillan (Timothy), Trevor Cooper (Sgt Woolf) and Daniel Laurie (Reggie).
Call The Midwife will return on Christmas Day, with series 8 following at some point in 2019.