This Christmas, the beloved nuns and midwives of Nonnatus House are back—but with a twist. Set across the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the new two-part festive special from Heidi Thomas takes viewers from snowy East End Poplar to the sun-drenched streets of Hong Kong.
Inspired by Jennifer Worth’s famous Call The Midwife trilogy, the special explores the challenges when senior staff travel to Hong Kong on a mercy mission, leaving the younger midwives to hold down the fort alone. Expect drama, heart, and a classic Christmas spirit as the story leaps between two very different worlds.
New Christmas Special Sets Scene for 2026 Series 15
The Christmas double-bill will air this festive season on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, leading into the eagerly awaited 15th series with eight all-new hour-long episodes coming in January 2026.
Regular cast stars such as Jenny Agutter (Sister Julienne), Laura Main (Shelagh Turner), Helen George (Trixie Aylward), Stephen McGann (Dr Turner), and Annabelle Apsion (Violet Buckle) return. Agutter, 72, says the special is packed with “a great deal of displacement.”
“The scripts reveal this extraordinary division of worlds. The mission, the ground itself, has slipped away,” Agutter reveals. “Even at Nonnatus House, people feel out of place.”
Main, who has been with the show since 2012, says the split setting brings exciting new dynamics.
“It’s completely new territory – half the cast in Hong Kong, while the Poplar scenes feel fresh and different. It’s a Poplar Christmas like we’ve never seen before,” the Scottish star explains.
Behind the Scenes: Mischief, Mayhem & Midwifery
Writer Heidi Thomas, 63, wanted the two-part special to truly pop, adding: “I wanted to explore what happens when we separate the characters. There’s something lovely about the multi-generational friendships, so why not divide them?”
She also teased some cheeky antics while the nuns are away.
“We’ve never had a proper Seventies party in Nonnatus House with booze and Nurse Rosalind out late. It was the perfect chance for a little ‘while the cat’s away, the mice will play’ vibe.”
Stephen McGann, who filmed the Hong Kong scenes in sweltering summer heat, had this to say:
“It was mad! We thought the locals would be used to it, but they said the conditions were awful. To us, it was wonderful. The balance between both locations really works.”
Warm Wishes and Snowy Scenes
Annabelle Apsion, who plays Violet, shared her love for the Christmas episodes.
“I just love being married to Father Christmas (Fred Buckle) and wish I was Mrs. Christmas,” she laughs. “The specials capture the heart of Christmas — warmth, connection and appreciating each other.”
She added the snowy setting brings a lovely holiday magic to the series.
Don’t miss the two-part Call The Midwife Christmas special on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this festive season.
