Call the Midwife’s Heidi Thomas on saying goodbye to Sister Monica Joan – and those secret ghost cameos

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The final episode of Call the Midwife didn’t end with a dramatic climax, but rather with a wave of emotion. Viewers across the country, from Scotland to the English Midlands, likely finished the episode with tears and heartfelt sighs.

The latest episode of Call the Midwife was incredibly moving. Showrunner Heidi Thomas really emphasized both the heartache and hope, creating a powerfully emotional experience. We saw quick, unexpected weddings with Rosalind and Cyril, Beryl accepting her life’s path, and Susan Mullucks achieving a level of independence that would have seemed impossible at her birth, given the challenges she faced as a child affected by thalidomide. As the 133rd installment, this episode truly delivered a memorable visit with the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House.

Well of course it did.

The sadness surrounding Sister Monica Joan’s death was particularly poignant. Her passing wasn’t unexpected, as Sister Catherine had accurately predicted how her health would decline and even who would be with her at the end. (Catherine’s predictions were so good, she could have made a fortune predicting dog races!).

Even though we knew Monica Joan was elderly, her passing was still surprising. Death always feels shocking – maybe not because of death itself, but because of the sudden loss of someone’s energy and spirit.

Thomas shared with TopMob that he found inspiration in the passing of Sister Monica Joan, drawing a parallel to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. He explained that while everyone anticipated the Queen’s death, especially after the Platinum Jubilee, it still felt like a significant loss. He compared this to the experience of his grandmother living to 101, noting the surprising shock that comes when someone with such a long life finally passes away.

It was sad to see Monica Joan go, but she passed peacefully, without any fear. And what an ending! When she died, she was surrounded by a whole group of ghostly nuns, and leading them was none other than Sister Evangelina – you remember her, the one who had that dramatic end in series five? It was such a lovely surprise to see Pam Ferris, who’s actually retired from acting, make a cameo. It was a real gift to the show’s devoted fans, like me!

While writing the script, I suggested to Ann Tricklebank, a long-time producer, that we quietly reach out to Pam to see if she’d be willing to participate. I was prepared to change the direction of the final episode if she wasn’t interested and focus on other storylines. However, we got an immediate response: she agreed to do it in honor of Judy.

Once Ferris joined the project, Thomas completed the script, and the scene was filmed in September – surprisingly, ahead of schedule for the rest of the episode. Thomas explains they kept it a closely guarded secret, using a false name – Sister Elizabeth instead of Sister Evangelina – on the call sheet to bring her onto the set. He says that as soon as Pam Ferris was back in her original costume, it felt like she hadn’t left at all, and her performance in the scene with the other actress was truly special.

The unexpected appearance of Ferris isn’t the only surprise in the scene where a character is on their deathbed. Judi Dench, who plays Sister Monica Joan, also makes a cameo as one of the ghostly nuns. She explains, ‘You briefly see me dressed as a nun when Monica Joan is escorted away.’ While she originally had a larger role, she decided to reduce her screen time. However, she found that spending a day in a nun’s habit was a valuable experience.

For Thomas, telling Monica Joan’s story up to the very end was a labour of love.

Watching Monica Joan pass away really allowed us to see what it’s like as someone nears the end of their life. It felt so real – that long period of looking back, grappling with what’s next, not just for the person leaving us, but for everyone who loves them. It’s something I think a lot of us experience or will experience, and it was portrayed so beautifully and honestly.

I thought it was a really compelling story, and a different kind of show for television, which usually focuses on fast-paced action and twists. I was drawn to the idea of telling a story slowly, with care and tenderness. It felt like a meaningful way to say goodbye to a character that had become important to so many viewers, both within and outside of the show’s audience.

Wanting to honor both the character of Sister Monica Joan and the actress Judy Parfitt who portrayed her, Thomas, a practicing Anglo-Catholic, arranged for a priest to administer last rites and lead the funeral service.

Instead of just asking for his advice, I decided to have him actually perform the scene. That’s why you see a real priest in those moments – he knew exactly what he was doing. And the people in the congregation were members of my own church; they arrived by minibus and even brought the official church robes. It truly made the scene feel authentic and meaningful, far beyond just a staged funeral.

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I recently spoke with Barbara Windsor – or, as so many of us know and love her, Monica Joan from Call the Midwife – and she was surprisingly candid about filming those heartbreaking final scenes. She turned 90 right on set in November, and honestly, she wasn’t enjoying revisiting such difficult emotions. She even joked that she was ‘practising’ for her own death while filming! It really made me wonder how the director, Thomas, handled such a sensitive situation with Barbara – it must have been incredibly tough for everyone involved.

Thomas describes Judy as a talented and funny actress, recalling she even wore bright red nail polish during scenes where her character was ill. He remembers a particularly touching moment when they were alone in their simple dressing room at Nonnatus House. Judy, still in her nightgown, held his hand and, with tears in her eyes, confessed that, to her, the character they were portraying felt like a real person. Thomas responded that he felt the same way, and they shared a quiet, meaningful connection.

What makes Call the Midwife so special is its unwavering optimism. Looking back, we see that life improves for the people featured in the show – women, those with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We also know that medical care will advance, making childbirth safer, and society will become more accepting over time.

The 220 babies featured in this series are expected to live longer, healthier, and more successful lives than their parents. And while technology promises to improve things for everyone, we also know that progress isn’t always guaranteed.

From its humble beginnings with nurses making house calls by bicycle – complete with medical tools like glass rectal tubes – Call the Midwife has evolved to embrace modern technology like ultrasound and even electric wheelchairs. The recent finale (though the show is expected to return) felt like a fitting and joyful celebration of everything the series and its dedicated viewers have come to cherish. It was a deeply satisfying conclusion, even if it’s only a temporary farewell, not a permanent ending.

Call the Midwife seasons 1-15 are available to stream now on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Don’t miss Call the Midwife! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

Gareth McLean

Gareth McLean has spent almost three decades writing about television. He’s reviewed countless shows as a critic and interviewed hundreds of famous faces – including Liza Minnelli and Jimmy Savile – as a feature writer. He’s also worked as a writer for television programs.

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2026-03-09 00:35