The long-running series Call the Midwife is returning for a landmark 13th season, and here's everything we know about BBC's popular period drama.
SUMMARY
- Production of Call the Midwife season 13 is almost complete, with the show's official Instagram page providing updates and teasing an upcoming Christmas special.
- The future of the series has been secured, as the BBC has renewed Call the Midwife for another two seasons, allowing for new and original stories set in the 1970s.
- The cast of season 13 will mostly consist of returning actors, with two new full-time additions joining as pupil midwives. The upcoming season will feature lots of babies and a few surprises.
The BBC's Call the Midwife is officially returning for a landmark 13th season, and there has been an uptick in news regarding the popular period drama. Debuting in 2011 and adapted from the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, Call the Midwife follows a tight-knit group of nurse midwives who ply their trade in the East End of London in the 1950s and '60s.
Praised for its historical accuracy and consistent relevancy, Call the Midwife uses the past as a platform to shine a light on issues that still plague modern society both in the medical field and beyond.
Since its inception, Call the Midwife has been a must-watch TV series in both the UK and abroad, and it hasn't lost a shred of popularity in its decade-plus on the air. Shows like Call the Midwife strike a rare balance between the typical historical drama that BBC shows are known for while also telling a shockingly modern story through its wide range of characters and their relatable struggles.
The future of the series was never really in jeopardy due in large part to its overwhelming popularity, and season 13 of Call the Midwife was an absolute certainty even as the show's 12th season was just wrapping up.
Call The Midwife Season 13 Latest News
While many important details about Call the Midwife season 13 are still up in the air, the latest news comes from a production update via the show's official Instagram page. In a post made on November 10th, 2023, Call the Midwife's social media revealed that "We are now racing towards the end of filming for series 13", which confirms that production on the newest season is almost wrapping up. The post was also meant to stir up interest in the upcoming Christmas special episode which will presumably air on December 25th as it has in the past.
The post was accompanied by an image of Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) setting off a fireworks display, which is presumably part of season 13 or the impending holiday special. Unlike other series which are typically pretty tight-lipped about their upcoming seasons, Call the Midwife season 13 has been awash with updates regarding cast changes and additions, and has provided plenty of behind-the-scenes looks at the production process which has been chugging along since the middle of 2023.
Call The Midwife Season 13 Is Confirmed
Season 12 of Call the Midwife finished airing in the UK in February 2023, and season 13 of the show had long since been confirmed by that point. What's more, the BBC wasted no time in ensuring the future of the show by also renewing Call the Midwife for another two seasons (via BBC).
The renewal not only gives fans another batch of seasons to look forward to, but it also gives the creators a chance to tell new and original stories as the series slides into the 1970s. Though nothing is known yet about what will happen in those future seasons, they are definitely on the way.
Call The Midwife Season 13 Production Status
Per the most recent updates via the show's official social media accounts, Call the Midwife season 13 is still filming at the time of this writing, though it is very near the end. The BBC's best period dramas aren't usually special effects extravaganzas, which means that the post-production period should be rather short compared to other modern series. Every season of Call the Midwife has begun airing episodes in January, save for the pandemic-affected season 10, which seems to suggest that season 13 will also start then. Additionally, the Christmas special is also expected to arrive on December 25th, since the series hasn't missed a holiday since season 2.
US fans of Call the Midwife will have to wait a bit long than their UK counterparts though, as the series has always followed a particular pattern as it makes its way across the pond. Presuming season 13 airs in its usual January time slot, US fans will have to wait until at least March to see the episodes since the affiliated PBS stations don't air them until the season is done. Similarly, Call the Midwife season 13 won't land on its American streaming home, Netflix, until much later in the year.
Call The Midwife Season 13 Cast
With a few exceptions, the ensemble of season 13 will closely resemble the cast of Call the Midwife season 12. That means stalwarts like Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne, Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan, and Laura Main as Shelagh Turner will all be back in the roles they've played since the first season. The cast of Call the Midwife season 13 will also feature a host of other returning faces such as:
Besides the main cast members who have been with the show for a long time, Call the Midwife season 13 is confirmed to add two new full-time additions to the ensemble. According to Digital Spy, it was announced in July 2023 that Renee Bailey will be appearing as Joyce Highland and Natalie Quarry will debut as Rosalind Clifford.
The duo will be playing pupil midwives who join the ranks at Nonnatus House in the upcoming Christmas special. Considering the updates in the season 13 story, it is clear that more help is needed with the impending baby boom.
Call The Midwife Season 13 Story
Though an official synopsis for Call the Midwife season 13 has yet to be released, many involved with the series have offered insight into how the new episodes will go. Helen George plays the role of Trixie on the show, and she teased that the upcoming season will feature "lots of babies" (via Digital Spy). Though that is hardly a surprise considering the show's subject, she cleverly added that there would also be "a few shocks" as well.
Fans were given a glimpse into one episode in particular though, as the official X account (formerly known as Twitter) for the series dropped clues about the season's 5th episode. In the post, a BTS image was shared showing the nurses attending to a heavily pregnant woman near the seaside. Clearly leaving Poplar behind for a brief trip to the coast, the post explained that "Last week our team took a special excursion away from the smoke-filled streets of the Sixties East End to film in the fresh coastal air of Sussex". It is still unknown exactly what that episode will be about.
Creator Heidi Thomas offered a bit more solidity with her assessment of the newest season when she explained that "even as man prepares to walk on the moon, we see them grappling with life's eternal questions: Who are we?...
And where do we belong?". Perhaps season 13 can be expected to be a bit more existential than previous years, with characters doing some soul-searching as the tumultuous '60s draw to a close. The cryptic clue also reveals Call the Midwife's time period as the first moon landing occurred on July 20th, 1969. With more seasons on the way, Call the Midwife is about to enter a new period of British history.
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