Sisters in Arms — Call the Midwife prequel announced

The BBC has announced Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms

The prequel series created by Heidi Thomas is set in Poplar during World War Two.

What we know about Sisters in Arms

First, it’s a great title. From the announcement, we are getting a 3×60’ Christmas Special. Stay tuned for details of a new series. The series features some well-known Call the Midwife characters as their younger selves and is narrated, as the older Sister Julienne, by Jenny Agutter (Call the Midwife, Captain America; The Winter Soldier).

In September 1939, Sister Monica Joan is in her prime, Sister Julienne and Sister Evangelina are young and zealous, and Nonnatus House is the beating heart of Poplar. Together with Sister Alice, and local GP Dr Kit, the nuns dedicate their lives to mothers, babies and the poor. But there is no gas and air, no penicillin, no cure for TB, and no welfare state. Then war is declared — and life gets even harder.

The three young secular midwives who complete the team — Sybil, Olive and Marianne — receive a baptism of fire as the blackout and the Blitz take hold. While bombs rain from the sky, women give birth underground, families are shattered, children run wild, and whole streets are reduced to rubble. But courage, compassion and resilience triumph as the community unites in its efforts to survive.

Who else stars

Sisters in Arms cast — L-R: Top – Julie Hesmondhalgh (Image: James Melia), Amy Booth-Steel (Image: Dujonna Gift), Helen Schlesinger (Image: Chris Mann), Helena Wilson (Image: Phil Sharp), Bally Gill (Image: David Reiss). Bottom – Liv Andrusier (Image: Kim Hardy), Lizzie Back (Image: Chris Davis), Ellie Mckay (Image: George Tomlinson), Ciaran Bowling (Image: Matt Nalton), Ami Metcalf (Image: Harry Livingstone), and Ben Rose (Image: Robin Savage).

It’s a big list.

Julie Hesmondhalgh (Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Broadchurch) will guest star as Sister Alice alongside Amy Booth-Steel (Down Cemetery Road) who takes on the role of Sister Evangelina, Helen Schlesinger (Ted Lasso, Albion) as Sister Monica Joan and Helena Wilson (The Hills of California, The Custom of the Country) as Sister Julienne. Dr Kit Malhotra is played by Bally Gill (Slow Horses, Interview with a Vampire).

Martin McCann (Blue Lights, Hostage) guest stars as Tommy Moffat with Rachel O’Connell (The Young Offenders, EastEnders) as his wife Mary.

Marianne Siegler is played by Liv Andrusier (The Witcher, Fiddler on the Roof), Sybil Maxted by Lizzie Back (Grantchester, Grace) and Olive Dobbs by Ellie Mckay (Hijack, Austin).

Ciaran Bowling (Dune Prophecy, Pierre) stars as Fred Buckle and Ami Metcalf (Sister Boniface Mysteries, Walking And Talking) as his wife Betty with Ben Rose (This Town) as Dr Patrick Turner.

Expect a lot more publicity once filming is well underway. We’ll bring the series announcement when we see it.