Call the Midwife Christmas special turns Peaky Blinders – creator told to change gangster names

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If you watched this year’s Call the Midwife Christmas special, you might have been surprised by its unexpectedly gritty and dramatic tone – it felt more like an episode of Peaky Blinders!

When the team from Nonnatus House arrived in Hong Kong, they found a city teeming with criminals, though surprisingly few wore flat caps. This followed the devastating collapse of their Kowloon branch, which had resulted in many injuries and deaths.

I was so worried when I heard about Dr. Turner, Sister Julienne, and the team’s urgent trip – what they called a ‘mercy dash.’ Turns out, they were facing a real danger – a powerful Chinese criminal group, a triad, was standing in their way.

But the Poplar contingent initially had no idea what they were walking into.

Violet’s son, a police officer stationed in Hong Kong, was the first to alert them to the existence of the criminal organization. He described it as being both hidden and widespread, a description they soon realized was accurate after speaking with people in the area.

Many people they met were clearly afraid, shown by their quiet talks, requests to leave secretly, and unwillingness to accept assistance, even when they really needed it.

Despite the challenges, they continued their work. Driven by a desire to help others, they found a house to use as a clinic for people of all ages.

Just as they were preparing to settle in, everything fell apart. A gangster, along with several others, arrived and told them the property wasn’t available, then demanded the keys.

The group protested, with Sister Hilda firmly demanding their deposit back if the man wouldn’t compromise. However, he remained resolute, repeating his demand for the keys. Then, he pulled out a gun, leaving them feeling completely helpless.

And it appears as if their situation is about to get a whole lot worse…

A preview of the upcoming Christmas special reveals a villain described as a ruthless gangster – nicknamed ‘The Cormorant’ by the show’s creator, Heidi Thomas. Thomas conducted extensive research into triads and Chinese organized crime to develop the character and the special’s storyline.

I really got lost in the research for this project. It got to the point where, when I created names for the gangsters and their groups, our consultant—an expert on triads who we hadn’t worked with before—told me the names were too authentic. He warned me I’d have to change them, or we could face serious consequences.

“So I was quite pleased with myself.”

Thomas survived, but Fred and Dr. Turner are in a dangerous situation, according to someone who lives nearby.

The short preview shows the characters being forcibly taken away by the man who previously demanded the keys to their temporary clinic – but it’s unclear where he’s taking them.

Are they about to come face-to-face with The Cormorant? And what will happen if they do?

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Don’t miss the Call the Midwife Christmas special, airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Boxing Day at 8:30pm.

I absolutely love Call the Midwife, and I’ve added it to my watchlist on the TopMob app! Seriously, if you’re looking for great TV, you should download the TopMob app too – it gives you daily recommendations and all sorts of features to help you find your next favorite show.

Authors

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor at TopMob, where she writes about TV dramas and comedies. Before that, she was a TV writer for Digital Spy and a content writer for Mumsnet. She has a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.

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2025-12-26 01:06