Based on the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth, the Sunday evening drama launched on BBC One last weekend with a total of 9.8million viewers, making it the channel’s highest launch episode of a new drama on record.

Eight new episodes will air next year.

Danny Cohen, BBC One Controller, commented: “Call the Midwife has had a huge impact with audiences. It’s a very high-quality drama series from a brilliant team. It manages to be both hard-hitting and emotional, gritty and warm. I am already looking forward to the second series.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, added: “Call the Midwife is a totally original mix of comedy, tears, babies and nuns and it is fantastic to see this distinctive piece of British drama win such high praise and ratings. We can’t wait for the team to return next year and are very grateful to the vision of Jennifer Worth and Heidi Thomas.”

Starring Jenny Agutter, Pam Ferris and Miranda Hart, Call the Midwife follows a community of nursing nuns in 1950’s East End London.

> Buy the Series 1 DVD on Amazon.

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