Call the Midwife Christmas special 2026 adds five new characters
BBC confirms three-part prequel set in 1939 Poplar during the Second World War outbreak
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The BBC has confirmed a three-part Christmas special of *Call the Midwife*, titled *Sisters In Arms*. The episodes will be set in Poplar in September 1939, during the outbreak of the Second World War. The special will introduce five new characters, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, Helena Wilson, Ellie McKay, Liv Andrusier, and Lizzie Back, as reported by the *Harrow Times*.
A wartime prequel with new faces
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The special will serve as a prequel to the long-running drama, which has aired since January 2012. Writer and showrunner Heidi Thomas said the story explores the evacuation of Poplar’s children and the fear they might not return home for Christmas. The *Harrow Times* reported that the production filmed during a heatwave but used snow machines to recreate winter conditions.
A BBC synopsis describes the setting as a time before modern medical advances, such as penicillin or gas and air for pain relief. The midwives and nuns of Nonnatus House face the challenges of war, including air raids, blackouts, and underground births. The plot emphasises community resilience amid destruction, as bombs destroy streets and families are separated.
Call The Midwife has a long and noble history of filming Christmas specials during heatwaves, and this year we welcomed the snow-machine back to the Nonnatus House set like an old friend. But I was surprised how many new emotions Call The Midwife: Sisters In Arms sparked.
Heidi Thomas, writer and showrunner
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Broadcast date still unconfirmed
The BBC has not yet announced an exact broadcast date for the special. It will air during the 2026 festive season, continuing the series’ tradition of Christmas episodes. Previous series of *Call the Midwife* are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
What happens next
The BBC is expected to release further details, including the broadcast date, closer to the festive season. No additional casting or production updates have been confirmed at this stage.
Questions this report answers
+Who are the new characters in the *Call the Midwife* Christmas special?
The BBC has confirmed five new actors will join the cast: Julie Hesmondhalgh, Helena Wilson, Ellie McKay, Liv Andrusier, and Lizzie Back. They will play midwives and other roles in the 1939 wartime setting of *Sisters In Arms*.
+When will the *Call the Midwife* Christmas special air?
The BBC has not yet confirmed an exact broadcast date. The three-part special, *Sisters In Arms*, will air during the 2026 festive season, following the series’ tradition of Christmas episodes.
+What is the *Call the Midwife* Christmas special about?
The special is set in Poplar in September 1939 during the outbreak of the Second World War. It follows midwives and nuns as they face wartime challenges, including evacuations, air raids, and underground births. The plot focuses on community resilience.
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