‘Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms’ Releases First Images
We have our first look at the forthcoming 'Sisters in Arms.'
Attention everyone: Call the Midwife: Sister in Arms has wrapped filming for its debut three-part Christmas special, and released the first images of the new cast.
This is perhaps more of a big deal than it should be for fans of the long-running show. That’s not to say people aren’t excited by the arrival of the spinoff prequel; however, because series creator Heidi Thomas is only one human being, the Call the Midwife: Sister in Arms series is replacing Call the Midwife on the BBC’s schedule for 2026/2027. The original parent show will return for the 2027-2028 TV season. That means that, over here in the U.S., there will be no Call the Midwife Christmas special with our usual favorites.
In fact, unless the series announces an American distributor in the coming weeks, Americans might not be able to watch the Call the Midwife: Sister in Arms special at all. That’s not only deeply distressing to fans who consider the show part of their holiday traditions, it’s also robbing long-time fans of their ability to support the show, since this three-parter is basically the series’ backdoor pilot.
However, we here at Telly Visions have faith that the Call the Midwife fandom in the U.S. is extensive enough that someone will pick the series up. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if PBS and BritBox fought for it – though one assumes any deal with BritBox would want the parent show also to be housed on its platform, instead of as part of the vast wasteland of Netflix.
(That being said, there’s a decent chance Netflix decides to bolster its already formidable festive season line-up with the new series, so we’ll just have to see how this all plays out.)
Here’s the series’ synopsis.
In September 1939, Sister Monica Joan is in her prime, Sister Julienne and Sister Evangelina are young and zealous, and Nonnatus House is the beating heart of Poplar. Together with Sister Alice, and local GP Dr Kit, the nuns dedicate their lives to mothers, babies and the poor. But there is no gas and air, no penicillin, no cure for TB, and no welfare state. Then war is declared - and life gets even harder. The three young secular midwives who complete the team - Sybil, Olive and Marianne - receive a baptism of fire as the blackout and the Blitz take hold. While bombs rain from the sky, women give birth underground, families are shattered, children run wild, and whole streets are reduced to rubble. But courage, compassion and resilience triumph as the community unites in its efforts to survive.
The series stars Amy Booth-Steel (Down Cemetery Road) as Sister Evangelina, Helen Schlesinger (Ted Lasso) as Sister Monica Joan, Julie Hesmondhalgh (Mr Bates vs the Post Office) as Sister Alice, and Helena Wilson (National Theatre Live: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead) as Sister Julienne. Bally Gill (Slow Horses) co-stars as Dr. Kit Malhotra. The series also features Liv Andrusier (The Witcher), Lizzie Back (Grantchester), Ellie McKay (Hijack), Martin McCann (Blue Lights), Ciaran Bowling (Dune: Prophecy), Ami Metcalf (Sister Boniface Mysteries), Ben Rose (This Town), and Rachel O’Connell (The Young Offenders).
Original cast member Jenny Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne on the flagship series, will serve as the show’s narrator, carrying over the framing device from the original show, which still has Vanessa Redgrave commentating on everything, even though her character left 12 seasons ago.
The series is created and written by Thomas, with directors Ann Tricklebank and John Maidens confirmed to be splitting helming duties across the Christmas Special’s three episodes. Thomas and Tricklebank are also executive producers, alongside Pippa Harris for Neal Street Productions and Jo McClellan for the BBC.
The three-part Call the Midwife: Sister in Arms Christmas special has wrapped filming. The BBC says that further details about a full-length Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms series will be announced in due course.
The series does not yet have an American distributor. We will update everyone as soon as that is resolved.
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