Call the Midwife’s Jenny Agutter teases death and destruction in “disturbing” Christmas special

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Christmas has arrived in Poplar, but celebrations are interrupted for some of the beloved characters on Call the Midwife when an unexpected crisis occurs.

It was heartbreaking to see the mother house in Hong Kong fall apart in the Christmas special – so many people were hurt, including innocent children. Honestly, it was overwhelming, and they just didn’t have enough people or resources to cope. Thankfully, our Nonnatus House team jumped in to help, and I was so proud of them for stepping up when things were so difficult.

The mission has collapsed due to a ground failure,” said Jenny Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne. “The land simply gave way, resulting in deaths and the complete destruction of the building. Now, the orphans and mothers who lived there are left homeless.

They organized a small group to travel to Hong Kong and explore options for assistance, including finding a new location and handling necessary arrangements.

Fenella Woolgar, who plays Sister Hilda, is also returning, which Agutter says is wonderful. Despite the challenging situation, she feels a real sense of purpose and energy from working in a place where her help is so needed.

Sister Julienne keeps that with her, and it’s something she really wants when she gets back to the UK.

She explained that this year’s special, like last year’s, will be presented in two parts, and its central theme is “unsteady ground.”

She explained that the changes involve people being uprooted, which can be both positive and unsettling. While it brings new opportunities, it’s also deeply concerning.

Sister Veronica is also traveling to Hong Kong with Sister Julienne and the others, and the journey brings up a lot of mixed feelings for her.

Rebecca Gethings described a poignant scene where Sister Julienne and Nurse Crane discovered a newborn abandoned in a cardboard box, just hours after its birth. While the situation initially seemed dire, the mother eventually returned for the baby, creating a heartwarming—though difficult—moment for Sister Veronica.

She’s grown very attached to the baby. She feels happy that he’s going to be alright and get back to his mom, but she also secretly wishes she could keep him.

According to Gethings, Sister Veronica, as a nun, hadn’t planned on having a baby, but she’s still experiencing a sense of loss over not being able to become a mother.

She’s experiencing a natural instinct to care for babies, given how much time she spends with them. This desire will be a recurring theme throughout the show, and we’ll see it become stronger as the series progresses.

The challenges faced by the Hong Kong team aren’t isolated – the uncertainty Agutter mentioned is also creating difficulties back in Poplar.

“They’re dealing with a family who are completely displaced,” she explained. “They are travellers who have no home, and who are having a child.”

Molly Vevers, the actress who plays Sister Catherine, the newest member of the team at Nonnatus House, shared more details about that story.

She became involved in a case involving two pregnant women from the Irish Traveller community who were living in a camp. As the story developed, a kind character named Queenie was introduced, and it was revealed she had a very sad past.

Sister Catherine plays a key role in helping her cope with her loss. It’s a very sad story, but it’s balanced by the cheerful Christmas spirit of the episode.

Call the Midwife airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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2025-11-26 22:36