Nurse Phyllis (Linda Bassett), Nurse Lucille (Leonie Elliott), Nurse Trixie (Helen George), Nurse Nancy (Megan Cusack) and Nurse Shelagh (Laura Main) in Call the Midwife Series 11 © Nealstreet Productions
Writer: Heidi Thomas
Starring: Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Raine, Pam Ferris, Miranda Hart, Helen George, Jenny Agutter, Laura Main, Judy Parfitt, Stephen McGann, Cliff Parisi, Ben Caplan, Jennifer Kirby, Leonie Elliot, Linda Bassett, Annabelle Apsion
Production Company: Neal Street Productions for BBC
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Chatham Riverside, Dreamland
Much-loved BBC period drama Call the Midwife (2012-2025) is back for its annual Christmas Special, which will kick off the fourteenth series. Based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, the TV drama follows the lives of nuns and midwives working in the East End of London during the 1950s and 60s.
For the first time in the shows history, the Christmas Special will be split into two parts – the first will air on Wednesday 25th December at 8pm with the second part to follow on Thursday 26th December at 7:30pm. The midwives will be busy delivering babies as usual, but Poplar will face more challenges including influenza, the Hong Kong flu and an escaped prisoner.
Series 14 will follow from Sunday 5th January 2025, with the midwives moving into the 1970s.
Series 1 Episode 1 of Call the Midwife aired for the first time on Sunday 15th January 2012 on BBC One and attracted over 10 million viewers. A new series has aired every year since, along with an annual Christmas Special broadcast every Christmas Day since 2012.
The early series featured actress Jessica Raine as the main protagonist Nurse Jenny Lee, with leading supporting cast Helen George as Nurse Trixie Franklin, Pam Ferris as Sister Evangelina, Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan and Miranda Hart playing Chummy Browne, all led by the calm guidance of Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter). Vanessa Redgrave narrates the series as mature Jennifer Worth.
The more recent series feature now familiar faces Nurse Valerie Dyer (Jennifer Kirby), Nurse Lucille Anderson (Leonie Elliott), Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett) and Nurse Trixie Franklin (Helen George) . Supporting cast includes long standing characters Doctor Turner (Stephen McGann) and his wife Shelagh Turner (Laura Main), Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) and Violet Buckle (Annabelle Apsion).
Call The Midwife Nurses ©The Historic Dockyard Chatham
During all fourteen seasons Call the Midwife has made use of the settings of The Historic Dockyard Chatham to stand in for the Victorian buildings of Poplar in East London. The Fitted Rigging House doubles for the Lisbon Buildings and Rakesby Street Homeless Shelter. Meanwhile, Admiral’s Offices exteriors feature as Poplar Maternity Home and the London Hospital. The Tarred Yarn Store has made regular appearances as a Boxing Ring, Chinese Laundry and derelict building. HMS Cavalier, a WW2 destroyer ship and The National Destroyer Memorial, has also featured playing the role of a Russian ship. The Commissioner’s House gardens set the scene for a famous engagement scene in one episode, while Anchor’s Wharf and the Dockyard Railway and steam train have regularly appeared for Poplar Docks scenes. The Victorian Ropery even appears in one episode as a working ropemakers as well as various cellars and tunnels around the building. In Episode 1 of Series 11, the Sail and Colour Loft appears as the building site where human bones are found. The Royal Dockyard Church also appears in the same episode as the graveyard that Nurse Trixie and Matthew (Olly Rix) visit.
In Series 13 Episode 1, the midwives cycle along Chatham Riverside, adjacent to the Historic Dockyard, on their way back to Nonnatus House.
In the 2024 Christmas Special, a funfair comes to Poplar. These scenes were filmed at Dreamland in Margate.
Behind the Scenes: Special Effects filming of Call the Midwife (2014) at The Historic Dockyard Chatham © BBC (Click on image for video clip).
The Historic Dockyard Chatham hosts Official Call the Midwife Location tours. For more information see here.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham was established in the mid-16th century and is located on the River Medway. A location with an extensive history, evident through its numerous buildings and exhibitions open to the public. Today Chatham is the only one of the original four Royal Navy Ropeyards to remain in operation and, together with its related buildings, forms the finest integrated group of 18th century manufacturing buildings in Britain. The site offers maritime, industrial, Georgian and Victorian architecture and cobbled streets, an ideal set for many film productions. Recent period dramas to film at the Dockyard include Belgravia (2020), World On Fire Series 1 (2019) and Pennyworth Series 1 (2019) to name but a few.
Considered to be the oldest-surviving amusement park in Great Britain, Dreamland dates back to the early 1860s and was revamped in 2017. The park has a Roller Room, vintage arcades, a fully restored Grade II listed Art Deco ballroom and beautiful rides dating from 1920 to the present day. Recent productions to have filmed at the park include Big Boys – Series 3 (2025), Dreamland (2023) and Empire of Light (2023).
Part 1 of the Call the Midwife Series 14 Christmas Special aired on BBC One on Christmas Day 2024, with Part 2 following on Boxing Day. The rest of the series commenced from Sunday 5th January 2025.
All 14 series are available to view on BBC iPlayer or purchase on Amazon Prime.
For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.
