Call the Midwife season 16: Release date speculation, potential cast and what could happen?

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Heidi Thomas, the creator of Call the Midwife, was right to say that season 15 marks the end of a significant period for the show.

With the passing of Sister Monica Joan and the heartbreaking closure of Nonnatus House’s maternity ward – which led some characters to seek new opportunities – it truly felt like an era was ending.

Thomas admitted to TopMob magazine that he cried more while filming the finale than during any other episode. He wondered if his tears were due to the emotional story or because it was likely a temporary end to the show, ultimately realizing it was a combination of both.

But the story isn’t over yet! A prequel series and a movie are planned, with season 16 expected to follow.

When can we anticipate new installments of the show? And considering how things have changed, which actors might reprise their roles?

Read on for everything we know so far about Call the Midwife season 16.

Call the Midwife season 16 release date speculation: When could it air?

Unlike previous instalments of the drama, this one is tricky to predict.

Usually, a Christmas episode starts off each new season, with the second episode airing in January. However, that won’t happen in 2027.

As Heidi Thomas recently told us, don’t expect a typical Christmas special from Call the Midwife next year. She’s hinted that they’re moving away from the traditional format, so it’ll be something quite different, and honestly, I’m intrigued to see what they come up with.

Pippa Harris, the show’s executive producer, announced the prequel – a three-part series set during the Blitz – will likely air around the holidays, though the BBC hasn’t officially confirmed the release date.

The story will show Sister Julienne, Sister Evangelina, and Sister Monica Joan when they were younger, alongside three new midwives. These midwives are unfamiliar with the East End and quickly find themselves facing challenging situations.

Okay, so here’s the deal with the future of this show. We’re heading overseas – think 1972 – for the next installment, and thankfully, we’ll still see some familiar faces. But here’s the catch: it’s coming after the already-announced prequel. That means fans hoping for season 16 anytime soon are probably out of luck. I’m realistically looking at a Christmas 2028 release, maybe even later. It’s a long wait, but hopefully, it’ll be worth it!

Thomas recently told TopMob magazine that each series of the show takes 14 months to produce, meaning fans could be waiting quite a while for the next installment.

Watch this space for updates.

Call the Midwife season 16 potential cast: Who could return?

Judy Parfitt won’t be returning as Sister Monica Joan on the show. Her character passed away from kidney disease in the final episode of season fifteen, marking the first time in the show’s history that the role will not be played by Parfitt.

Viewers are also wondering about Trixie, who recently started at The Lady Emily Clinic, and Joyce, who will be working at St Cuthbert’s.

Of course, they could still feature – but their involvement wouldn’t be half as seamless.

Dr. Turner (Stephen McGann) will still be practicing medicine, and his team will remain largely the same: Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett) will continue her work as the local district nurse, and Miss Higgins (Georgie Glen) will still be his medical secretary.

We’d also expect to see the following:

  • Laura Main as Shelagh
  • Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne
  • Rebecca Gethings as Sister Veronica
  • Molly Vevers as Sister Catherine
  • Natalie Quarry as Rosalind
  • Zephryn Taitte as Cyril
  • Annabelle Apsion as Violet
  • Cliff Parisi as Fred
  • Daniel Laurie as Reggie
  • Christopher Harper as Geoffrey
  • Max Macmillan as Timothy
  • April Rae Hoang as May
  • Alice Brown as Angela
  • Edward Shaw as Teddy
  • Linda Hargreaves as Mrs Wallace
  • Dame Vanessa Redgrave as the voice of Jennifer Worth

Call the Midwife season 16 potential plot: What could happen?

At the end of season 15, Sister Julienne shared that Nonnatus House would focus on prayer and helping others after the maternity ward closed, while they planned for the future.

Even though things are changing, this still offers value and reassurance to the residents of Poplar. However, it’s unclear how long that will last, particularly because it alters the core idea of the series.

The film will center around three possible future medical assignments, each requiring a year or more spent living abroad. These locations are the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in the Pacific, British Columbia, and a secluded area of Australia.

She asked for our support – our prayers and understanding – and invited those who could to continue traveling with us. I feel like she really wants us to stick with her through this, and I plan to.

“All will be well, I promise you.”

Some of the team at Nonnatus House are dedicated to staying and continuing their work, even though things will be changing. Others are beginning to look for new opportunities, and it’s likely more will do the same soon.

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Laura Main shared with TopMob magazine that the cast has always felt secure in their roles. While they didn’t know for sure after the very first season, they quickly learned after just two episodes that the show would be renewed. This has given them a wonderful and unusual level of stability for 15 years, and they’ve thankfully never had to face the disappointment of a series ending without knowing if it would return.

Helen George confirmed the show will return after a break, but hinted it will look different, as some characters will be leaving.

Call the Midwife seasons 1-15 are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

As a total TV addict, I have to tell you about Call the Midwife. Seriously, add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app – it’s a must-see! And download the app itself, because it gives you daily recommendations and all sorts of cool features. Trust me, you won’t want to miss out!

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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2026-03-09 00:38