Heidi Thomas, the creator of Call the Midwife, has revealed the three main characters for the show’s upcoming prequel. The new series, set during World War II, will feature younger versions of Sister Monica Joan (originally played by Judy Parfitt), as well as Sisters Julienne and Evangelina, who were portrayed by Jenny Agutter and Pam Ferris in the original series. Thomas shared this news with Radio Times at their 2026 Covers party.
This new series will mark the first time viewers have seen Sister Evangelina since her character passed away in season five after suffering a stroke.
Thomas shared that the show is welcoming three new midwives, all with limited experience in the East End. He explained they’ll be facing significant challenges right from the start, alongside the returning, beloved characters.
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She jokingly pointed out that Sister Monica Joan wasn’t as young as people might think, but was still at her best.
I’m so excited about the prequel! The showrunner gave us a little tease about what it’s going to be like, and it sounds amazing. Basically, it’s set in a time when women didn’t have the power during the start of a war, but things change fast. All the men are either sent off to fight or put to work supporting the war effort at home, and that leaves the women to step up and take control of everything. It’s going to be really interesting to see how that plays out!
I’m really excited because this game is going to feature a ton of powerful female characters. It’s all about letting them shine and really take the lead – strong women are definitely the focus!
Thomas said, with a nod acknowledging the connection between the new show and the original, that while things evolve, some core elements remain the same.
A new prequel series for Call the Midwife will debut at Christmas 2026, taking the place of the show’s traditional Christmas special, a change that actress Laura Main isn’t thrilled about.
Shelagh Turner, the actress, shared with Radio Times and other media that she’ll be sad to miss filming the Christmas special. She explained that being part of the show makes the holiday season even more meaningful, saying it’s wonderful to have something you’ve worked on all year to enjoy with family.
She explained that since she loves Christmas so much, it would be a shame not to have some festive cheer in April too. She believes you shouldn’t have to wait a whole year for just one traditional Christmas.
After the upcoming spin-off, the first ever Call the Midwife movie is planned, taking place overseas in 1972. According to executive producer Pippa Harris, the film will include beloved characters from the television series.
Call the Midwife airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
Read more Call the Midwife news on our dedicated homepage
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2026-02-04 19:20