Call The Midwife reveals first look at Christmas Special and teases ‘odd’ storyline for beloved character
CALL The Midwife has given fans an exciting first look at the upcoming Christmas Special.
The BBC One programme has delighted viewers ever since it started in 2012.
The period drama is set to air the highly-anticipated fourteenth series next year on BBC One.
But before then, fans can expect a very special episode of Call The Midwife to air at Christmas.
Now, the show has given more details on what viewers can look forward to, complete with a rather strange central theme.
A special behind-the-scenes snap was posted onto the show’s official Instagram page.
One member of the crew held a clapperboard in front of actress Georgie Glen, who stars in the show as the infamous Miss Higgins.
Last series, she was shaken to the core by the arrival of Victor, her long-lost son.
Although the reunion was bittersweet, it was short-lived and ended in tragedy as he died before they could reconnect properly.
But it seems that she has better days ahead, as she is seen celebrating the festive season in her own signature style.
In the behind-the-scenes snap, Georgie, 68, was seen in character as she sat down at a wooden kitchen table, peeling vegetables.
Her character was completely surrounded by huge piles of Brussels sprouts, as the show teased this will be a central theme of the episode.
This was alongside a long essay caption as the BBC show revealed more details about the upcoming episode.
It read: “Behind the Scenes on the Call the Midwife Christmas Special: Sprouts!
“Hello all! We’ve just got our hands on this photo from the set of the Call the Midwife Christmas Special, which comes to your screens this holiday season 2024! .
“It’s a wonderful behind-scenes portrait of our own Georgie Glen, as the redoubtable Miss Higgins . But we couldn’t help noticing a great profusion of that most Christmas of British vegetables….. SPROUTS! Lots and lots of them!
The more curious amongst you might wonder why there are quite so many spouts being prepared by Millicent here…. All will be revealed!
Call The Midwife producers
“Now the humble Brussels sprout is a vegetable that… how can we put it… divides opinion amongst our yuletide diners – particularly children!
“There is an enduring love/hate relationship with this maligned staple amongst the British – some will even complain of its powers to induce rather more digestive activity than is desirable or polite! .
It added: “And yet it remains a centrepiece of the traditional British Christmas meal. And the more curious amongst you might wonder why there are quite so many spouts being prepared by Millicent here….
“All will be revealed! Call the Midwife will return with a new Christmas Special and Series 14 in 2025 xx.”
Call The Midwife: A breakdown
Call The Midwife first came onto the airwaves in 2012 and has been seen by millions. But what is it about?
Series one: Set in early 1957 and it explored the ‘Baby Boom generation, which included themes of poverty and post-war immigration.
Series two: Set in 1958 and it showed gas and air being introduced for pain relief for the first time. It ended with the Nonnatus House building being condemned.
Series three: Set in 1959 and it depicted gruesome conditions such as cystic fibrosis, polio and it showed the midwives in the context on prisons.
Series four: Set in 1960 under the threat of nuclear warfare and the emergency response guidelines issued by the local Civil Defence Corp. Other themes included LGBT rights, and syphilis.
Series five: Set in 1961 and it shows the care of patients with conditions such as Typhoid and strokes. We also saw the effects of thalidomide, the introduction of the contraceptive pill.
Series six: Set in 1962 and domestic violence was at the centre of the season. Other themes included FGM (female genital mutilation), mental health issues and interracial marriage. It was also notable for the introduction of Reggie, a recurring character with Down Syndrome.
Series seven: Set in 1963 and we see Nurse Lucille Anderson for the first time. We also see the show address conditions such as dementia, huntington’s disease, leprosy and meningitis
Series eight: Set in 1964 and it bravely covered the issue of abortion, which was not legal for another three years in 1967. Sickle cell disease, cleft lip, cleft palate and intersex people also featured.
Series nine: Diptheria was at the centre of the ninth instalment in 1965, and it was notable for featuring a blind expectant mother. But the role of Nonnatus House within the community also came into question.
Series ten: Set in 1966, Nonnatus House has a rival in the form of the private Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair. PKU, diabetes and the controversy surrounding abortion were central themes.
Series eleven: Set in 1967 amid the housing crisis and a scabies epidemic. The show was rocked by a train crash right next to Nonnatus House.
The sneak peek seemed to have made fans more excited than ever, as they flocked to the comments section.
One fan gushed: “Absolutely cannot wait! My favorite show of all time!”
Another exclaimed: “Love this show can’t wait to see it again ”
“So happy to have this special moment to cherish til the Christmas special!,” stated a third user.
Whilst a fourth commented: “Just binged all 13 series recently and can’t wait for more.”
And a fifth viewer added: “American fan here. I love this show so much!”
BBC departures and returns
LEAVING/LEFT
Newsnight’s Mark Urban after 35 years on air
Claudia Winkleman quitting BBC Radio 2 after 15 years
Correspondent Robin Brant after two decades
Sports presenter Garry Richardson after 50 years
BBC Radio star Jason Rosam after 16 years on air
Jordan North quitting Radio 1 and moving to Capital
RETURNING/RETURNED
Martine Croxall after launching legal action against the Beeb
Karin Giannone after a horror injury and year off air
Annita McVeigh after losing out on a chief presenter job last year
Geeta Guru-Murthy after also being off air for more than a year