Call the Midwife stars told “not to venture outside” when filming during Hong Kong typhoon

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The popular show Call the Midwife is back next month with a special Christmas episode, and filming was quite challenging for the cast. The show’s creator recently shared some of the difficulties they faced during production.

The popular BBC show is returning for its 15th season next year. Before that, viewers can enjoy two special holiday episodes, featuring a global adventure with the characters traveling to Hong Kong.

Now that filming for the new episodes is finished, Heidi Thomas, the creator and head writer, shared some details with Radio Times about what viewers can anticipate. She also mentioned that filming in Asia presented some challenges for the production team.

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She remembered being told a typhoon, rated a six, was coming, but no one seemed particularly concerned. “That’s pretty normal in Hong Kong,” she said. However, while on location with producer Annie Tricklebank, they started receiving alerts that the typhoon was rapidly intensifying, reaching strengths of seven and then eight.

By Friday night, we received word that a level 10 storm was coming, so we were confined to the hotel, told to keep the curtains closed, and stay indoors. We all gathered in the basement and enjoyed some dim sum.

Thomas wasn’t the only one thinking about what happened. Rebecca Gethings, who played Sister Veronica, remembered (according to the BBC) that they experienced a typhoon while filming. Everyone had to stay inside their hotel and watch as the wind bent the trees and the sea got rough.

Jenny Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne, admitted to a bit of mischief during a recent incident. She explained that they were told not to open the hotel curtains in case something damaged the windows, but since their room faced the water, the risk seemed low.

I went outside to check out the incredible scene of the wind and water. I probably shouldn’t have, as we were told to stay inside, but I quickly took a video for Danny, who plays Reggie, so he could see what being in a typhoon was like.

Despite some off-screen difficulties, the holiday specials promise a lot of action, including tragic events – Agutter has revealed that characters will die when a disaster occurs.

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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2025-11-29 23:19