Call the Midwife creator “constantly” receives offers from streamers – but reveals no desire to leave the BBC

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As a big fan of quality TV, I have to say Call the Midwife is a real treasure for the BBC. And it’s not slowing down! We’ve got the 13th Christmas special coming up, then season 15 early next year. But get this – they’re also working on a prequel series, a movie and they’ve already greenlit season 16! It’s fantastic to see a show with so much heart and staying power getting this kind of support.

It’s not surprising that Heidi Thomas, the show’s creator, is in demand by streaming services – they all want to be involved in such a successful project.

During a recent press conference, Thomas was asked about potential offers from streaming services like Netflix. She confirmed she regularly receives ‘wonderful opportunities,’ but emphasized her commitment to the BBC, calling it ‘the best opportunity I’ve ever had’ and stating she has no plans to leave.

She questioned why she’d leave a successful show for something so uncertain. The series follows the lives of midwives and nuns working in London’s East End from the late 1950s to the 1970s.

I’ve always been full of ideas, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have incredibly talented people help me express them. This work feels like my calling, something I’ve dedicated a large part of my life to, and I plan to continue doing it for the foreseeable future.

I feel very fortunate to have been able to create work featuring diverse stories – about women, working-class people, those with disabilities, and newcomers to the country. Unlike traditional media, streaming services often offer fleeting attention; things appear quickly but don’t necessarily have lasting impact, like a firework that quickly fades.

Call the Midwife is a really strong show, isn’t it? It’s been carefully developed from the very beginning, and there are plenty more stories to tell.

When someone pointed out that creators are often drawn to platforms like Netflix because of the money, Thomas countered that her priority wasn’t financial – it was about aligning with a company’s values.

Being a BBC show is fantastic because they provide a good budget, and we make sure every single pound goes directly into making the show the best it can be. That’s how it should be. We always wish we had more time and money, but those limitations actually force us to be creative and really think through every detail, both what the audience sees and everything that happens behind the scenes. You can’t put a price on that kind of careful consideration.

Jenny Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne and has been in most episodes of the show, shared stories about the heartfelt letters the cast has received from fans over the years. These letters show how much the show’s kindness and care mean to its dedicated viewers.

She explained that she often receives letters not about her performance, but about how the story itself has impacted people. She finds these messages incredibly moving, and they remind her that even though acting can sometimes feel unimportant, it clearly makes a difference in people’s lives.

Hearing stories about how the show helped people through tough times, or really made a difference in their lives, makes you realize it’s a true gift to be able to have that kind of impact. It’s a really special feeling, and we’re so grateful to have experienced that.

Christopher Harper, who started playing Trixie’s brother Geoffrey on the show in 2023, agreed, saying it’s a “huge honor” to be involved with Call the Midwife.

As an actor, you have the freedom to portray any role, and you generally play whatever the script calls for. But with a character like this one, you become a connection to the people who deeply care about the show. It really hits home how meaningful it is to them and the emotional impact it has.

“So it’s fabulous as an actor to be part of that.”

Call the Midwife will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas.

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2025-11-27 17:06