Call the Midwife season 16 is confirmed – but what happens next, after that end-of-an-era finale?

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As a huge Call the Midwife fan, I was so relieved to hear it’s coming back for season 16! But honestly, the way season 15 ended left me with a really strange feeling, like an era was ending. Sister Monica Joan’s passing was incredibly moving and felt so… final. And while I knew things were changing, seeing Dr. Turner separate the maternity side of his practice was a shock. But the worst part? Seeing that sign on Nonnatus House saying it was closing – even if it’s just temporary – was really upsetting and made me worry about the future!

During that episode, Sister Julienne revealed that Nonnatus House would focus on prayer and charitable work while they planned their future. Those plans involve considering three possible new medical missions: one in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (north of Fiji, between Australia and Hawaii), another in British Columbia, Canada, and a third in a remote area of Australia. Each mission would require at least a year of work overseas.

The next chapter of the story will continue in the Call the Midwife movie, which is expected to be set in either 1972 or 1973, according to Thomas, who spoke with Yours magazine. However, a release date hasn’t been announced yet. Sister Julienne ended her remarks by asking as many of the team as possible to stay with them during the difficult times ahead, but the Nonnatus House team appeared visibly shaken.

Okay, so if you’re like me and totally obsessed with Call the Midwife, you’re probably freaking out a little about what’s going to happen to the show. Totally get it! Here’s what I’ve found out about its future.

Is Call the Midwife returning for season 16?

Even the best shows eventually finish, but thankfully Call the Midwife isn’t ending anytime soon. The popular nursing drama has been renewed for a sixteenth season, though the exact return date is still unknown.

For years, Call the Midwife has typically released a new season each January. However, that schedule will be temporarily changing. Production of a highly anticipated Call the Midwife prequel series (coming this Christmas, with a later release in 2026) and a Call the Midwife movie will take priority.

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Call the Midwife showrunner Heidi Thomas recently told Yours magazine that while season 16 has been delayed, it won’t be the last in the traditional format. She explained they’re planning a two-year break from the show.

What will happen to Nonnatus House and the cast in season 16 of Call the Midwife?

Helen George, who plays Trixie, hinted that the next season of the show will be different, mentioning that some characters are leaving, which worried fans. She shared this information in an interview with Radio Times.

Fans can also look forward to future storylines for the midwives of Nonnatus House after their recent trip abroad. According to actress Jenny Agutter, speaking with Yours, the show will go back to its usual format after the events of the special, but with some new surprises.

Thomas explained that the setting for Series 16 will be a bit different due to changes within the National Health Service. While it will still be located in London’s East End, the action may take place in a smaller hospital or a doctor’s office, something he plans to develop further later this year.

Who will be in the Call the Midwife movie?

It’s unclear which actors from the current season will be back for season 16, but the showrunner has offered some good news about the movie. They confirmed that ‘most of the current cast’ will be involved. This is reassuring, especially considering the season finale left many viewers wondering who could possibly return besides the core group.

Even though Sister Julienne is hoping everyone will stay together, it seems unlikely. Rosalind Robinson (played by Natalie Quarry) is newly pregnant and starting a family with her husband, Cyril. Plus, Trixie (Helen George) has just become a majority owner of the Lady Emily Clinic for Women and Babies, after joining the board of the Aylward estate, and that will likely take up a lot of her time and focus.

She’s not only secured a new position as the head nurse at the clinic, but she’ll also be in charge of everything that happens there. It’s expected she’ll stay in Poplar for now, as her family commitments as a wife and mother will keep her rooted there for the foreseeable future.

She isn’t the only nurse leaving Nonnatus House. Joyce Highland has taken on a temporary leadership role at St. Cuthbert’s Hospital, so the team is now quite dispersed.

Even though these changes might worry fans, we’re confident Thomas will be able to steer things back on track for this new story. Beyond that, everyone will just need to be patient and see what happens.

Even though things are changing, there’s still a lot to be excited about with Call the Midwife, especially the new prequel series which explores the beginnings of Sisters Julienne, Monica Joan, and Evangelina. The show is excellent at evolving and telling compelling stories, so even if the changes feel a little unexpected, it’s likely to continue being engaging.

No matter how things evolve, the compelling stories that initially attracted fans will always be at the heart of the franchise, even if the presentation changes a bit.

Honestly, after everything, all we can really do is have faith in the people making the show. It felt like they were talking directly to us fans when Sister Julienne said, “All will be well, I promise you.” It was such a comforting thing to hear, and I’m choosing to believe it!

Although she was speaking to the cast and crew, her words felt hopeful and positive for viewers.

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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2026-03-09 00:20