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TV fans have celebrated the ‘amazing news’ after one of the BBC’s most beloved shows confirmed a new film and prequel spin-off series.
The long-running drama Call the Midwife follows a group of nurse midwives working in London’s East End, with the story spanning from the late 1950s to the start of the 1970s.
Having first started airing 13 years ago in 2012, it’s now been confirmed that the story will continue in a feature film, which will be set in 1972 in an unknown location, featuring familiar characters from the series.
Meanwhile, the upcoming prequel series will also feature younger versions of fan-favourite midwives, and fans could barely contain their excitement.
Explaining the new prequel series, the series writer and executive producer Heidi Thomas said: ‘The Blitz years in the East End were extraordinary – the bombs fell, the babies kept on coming, and the Sisters kept on going.
‘There will be so much in the prequel for our wonderful, loyal fans, including the appearance of some familiar (if much younger!) faces.’
Discussing the upcoming film, which is due to be shot in 2026, executive producer Dame Pippa Harris added: ‘We have all been delighted by the way audiences have continued to embrace Heidi’s imaginative and moving stories from Nonnatus House.
‘Emboldened by this warmth and enthusiasm, now feels like the right time to expand our world and take our nuns and midwives onto the big screen with our movie, and back in time with the prequel!’
Responding on Reddit, SherLovesCats said: ‘Let’s hope the prequel has more of the grit of the early seasons. I love the idea of the prequel. I hope they get the right people to play the nuns. This is the best news!’
AndyKWHau wrote: ‘My mum and dad are from Hong Kong and lived through this era so I’m super excited for this!’
RainbowRevolver added: ‘Amazing news. Been wanting a prequel series set during the war for ages.’
Fellow user rem_1984 commented: ‘Omg, that’s amazing!! We always heard about the early years in Poplar before the NHS, I’m looking forward to seeing it now.’
What we know so far about Call the Midwife's future
Meanwhile on Instagram, Shellbeddall said: ‘Oh my gosh…this is amazing ❤️❤️ I literally can not wait.
‘Been a fan since day one…watching with my Nan on a Sunday evening and listening to her stories from her childhood and youth living in Poplar (she was a true East End girl)! I’ve just started to re-watch from the start.’
Snipsindisguise remarked that the latest news ‘goes to show that even after all these years people still want more Call the Midwife’.
‘Who can blame them. To get a prequel and a film is amazing,’ they shared.
In addition to the film and prequel series, Call the Midwife will also be back later this year with its annual Christmas special, which will be set in Hong Kong and Poplar.
An official Instagram post for the series stated: ‘When senior members of the Nonnatus House staff head to Hong Kong on a mercy mission, the younger midwives are left to cope alone.
‘As the Christmas action shifts between the sun-drenched Far East and a snowy East End, Sister Julienne finds herself excited about the Order’s future.’
The first series of the show was originally inspired by the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, who was a midwife and nurse in Poplar.
Call the Midwife is available to watch on BBC.
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