BBC One has commissioned a sixth season of Call the Midwife, before the fifth season has even begun airing.

Taking the nuns and midwives into 1962, Season 6 will consist of a Christmas special in 2016 followed by eight 60-minute episodes in early 2017.

> Buy the complete Season 1-4 box set on Amazon.

Call the Midwife launched in January 2012 and is the most-watched drama series in the UK so far this year, with all four seasons to date averaging over 10m viewers per episode.

Executive producer Pippa Harris commented: “I am delighted that the BBC has decided to commission series six of Call the Midwife even before we have gone on air with series five! It really demonstrates their commitment to and passion for the show. The ongoing success of Call the Midwife is down to the incredible writing skills of Heidi Thomas and the talent and dedication of our wonderful cast and crew. I hope the audience will enjoy watching series five, which I firmly believe is our strongest yet.”

Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, added: “BBC One is very proud to be the home of Call the Midwife. Its unrelenting quality and ambition has made it the most-watched drama series of the year and I’ve just committed to a sixth series in 2017.”

Call the Midwife returns later this month for a Christmas special at 7.30pm on Friday 25 December on BBC One, with Season 5 set to begin in January.

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