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Call the Midwife cast reveal return hopes amid hiatus following season 15’s tearjerking end

"We've been sowing those seeds..."

A group of midwives, nuns and colleagues stand and sit around a wooden table in a wood-panelled room, listening intently as a nun speaks to them.

BBC/Neal Street Productions/Olly Courtney

Published: Monday, 14 September 2026 at 8:00 am

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When some of the Call the Midwife cast reunited at last week's National Television Awards to collect the gong for Returning Drama, it was the first time many of them had caught up since the main series went on hiatus.

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"Obviously there's a bit of a handover going on, so we're all just a bit giddy that we’ve seen each other," Christopher Harper (Trixie's brother Geoffrey) told Radio Times.

Heidi Thomas, the architect of the beloved BBC period drama, has been hard at work writing the three-part prequel series Sisters in Arms, set during World War II. That will form part of the broadcaster's festive schedule, with a view to returning for more episodes.

Following that there will be a movie, set overseas, the location for which will either be the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in the Pacific Ocean, British Columbia or a remote part of Australia. Normal service will then be resumed with season 16.

"It's not the end," Stephen McGann (Dr Turner) assured fans – although it's not currently known if Call the Midwife as we know it will return beyond that.

Reflecting on what it was like to film the season 15 finale in light of that uncertainty, Harper said: "It was a real mix, it was really emotional – particularly because of the big death [of Sister Monica Joan].

"And while some of us are a bit newer to it than others, for some people it's been part of their lives for 15 years."

McGann recalled their final day of filming when the current cast looked back through photographs of the show's previous talent.

"Some genius had the bright idea of why don't we play... Perry Como at his most lachrymose, singing this beautiful song [My Days of Loving You].

"Honestly, this was ugly crying. This wasn't just crying, it was so emotional. Heidi was there that day. She was off behind the camera. She was ugly crying too."

But it wasn't just Sister Monica Joan's passing and that final scene that elicited such raw emotion. They don't know when they'll be reunited on set, since the movie's cast has yet to be announced, or who is returning for season 16.

There are question marks over Trixie (Helen George), who has joined The Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair, and Joyce (Renee Bailey), who will be working at St Cuthbert's.

"I think what we should do, we should be able to nominate who should and shouldn't be in the film, each one of us," joked McGann.

"I definitely shouldn't be in it. I think I should do the catering."

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Some of the cast have other, more maverick ideas.

"I think Rosalind and Joy should run away together," said Bailey, who pitched a series in which pair the "solve crimes" together.

"We've been sowing those seeds," chuckled Harper. "You're Bond [gesturing to Zephryn Taitte, who plays Cyril], I’m the evil one with the big white cat."

But in all seriousness, they'd "all love to be part of the movie", continued Bailey. "I think it'd be amazing to go back to these roles.

"Especially after having a break," nodded Natalie Quarry (Rosalind).

"It was a beautiful thing to be part of such a well-known series and come in quite late, but still be welcomed in, with opened arms," added Bailey.

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Authors

A head and shoulders shot of Abby Robinson. She is in front of a grey background, looking at the camera and smiling. She wears a black zipped-up jacket with an elaborate gold and maroon design

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Katelyn Mensah, smiling against a lime green background.

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.

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