Call the Midwife season 13: release date, cast, plot and everything we know

Call the Midwife has become a firm favorite with fans around the world, and thankfully the show's future has been confirmed with three more seasons on the way, meaning we will have the drama on our screen until at least 2026.

After a hugely successful Call the Midwife season 12 fans are in for a treat because both the UK and US release dates have been confirmed for season 13 - and it will be here shortly after the Call the Midwife Christmas special 2023 has aired.

Heidi Thomas OBE, creator and writer of Call the Midwife says of the new season: “After so many years, our much loved regular characters are like family to me - and our wonderful fans so often tell me that they feel the same. I know they will be as thrilled as I am that series 13 of Call the Midwife is full of beautiful moments that celebrate the young, the old, and the precious ties that bind them.

"After Trixie’s spectacular wedding, the Nonnatus House community feels more tightly-knit than ever, but life in Poplar has never been a fairy tale. As 1969 unfolds we will see change and challenge rock the world of our beloved nuns, nurses, medics, and midwives. Newcomers Joyce and Rosalind arrive with much to learn, and much to give."

Here is everything you need to know about the new season, from when it will air, to which cast will be returning and what storylines we can expect from everyone's favorite team of community midwives...

Call the Midwife season 13 release date

Call the Midwife season 13 will start on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 8pm on BBC One. You will also be able to catch up on iPlayer after the episode has aired, where you will also find all previous series of the drama.

In the US, season 13 will start on Sunday, March 17 on PBS.

It has also been officially confirmed that season 13 of Neal Street Productions’ Call the Midwife will consist of 8 episodes that will each be an hour long.

Call the Midwife season 13 — filming news

Filming for Call the Midwife has now wrapped up, but while filming was taking place, the show's social media kept fans up to date with the latest goings on behind the camera...

An Instagram post earlier this year revealed: "Pssst! Heard the news? It's the last week of filming on Call the Midwife Series 13! We snatched this gorgeous pic of the Turner children in their late-sixties finery to mark the very last week of this year's filming!

"We love seeing Alice (Angela) sharing a secret joke with April (May) while a curious Ned (Teddy) looks on! The Turner children are actually SUCH good friends on set, and always look out for each other, much to the pride of their fake parents Stephen McGann and Laura Main! It was their last day on set, so there was much fun, and many hugs. They were taking part in a rather lovely sequence for episode 8... but of course, you'll have to wait to find out what that is. Next stop..... end of filming!"

It was also revealed that Call the Midwife has been doing some filming on location.

The show's social media page shared a post with the caption: "What do we have here?? Have Nurse Crane and Miss Higgins abandoned Poplar for the delights of the English Riviera? And who is that young mother-to-be that they're attending to....?

"Last week our team took a special excursion away from the smoke-filled streets of the Sixties East End to film in the fresh coastal air of Sussex. The weather was... well, as you'd expect from England in September - sunny, rainy, stormy, bright, cold and warm all in one day!!!! But our intrepid crew made the best of it, and much fun was had by all!"

It was also revealed that this seaside scene will feature in episode 5 of season 13.

It was announced back in May that filming for season 13 had officially begun. The news was shared on social media with a caption that read: "BREAKING!! It's official - #CallTheMidwife has begun filming for season 13!!"

The pictures show Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) on set along with Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle, Annabelle Apsion as Violet Buckle and Daniel Laurie as Reggie Jackson — so we know they are definitely back for the new season!

Another character definitely returning is Stephen McGann, who plays Doctor Turner after he gave fans a glimpse behind the scenes on set today when he shared a picture of his character's desk at the doctor's surgery with the simple caption: "Hello again old friend. :-)".

It is also revealed that the team is filming the Christmas episode first as there is tinsel in the picture, giving the surgery a festive feel.

Call the Midwife season 13 plot

When it comes to upcoming plots there is no shortage of drama unfolding at Nonnatus House. Show writer and creator Heidi Thomas once teased: "The stories we tell are like babies — they never stop coming, we love them all, and we vow to do our best by every single one."

On Tuesday, July 4 it was revealed by the BBC that season 13 will see the usual drama we have come to know and love from Call the Midwife.

An official statement reads: "Series 13 continues to explore complex medical and personal situations on the midwifery and district nursing rounds. It is now 1969 and more babies are being born in hospitals than ever before. Pressure on maternity beds remains extremely high across the country but Poplar is coping better than most due to the work of Nonnatus House and the popularity of home births under the auspices of the Sisters.

"This series will see stories from within the Sylheti and Nigerian communities and from around the docks. Poor housing continues to blight areas of Poplar presenting complex social and health challenges to the Nonnatus team. It will also explore issues surrounding Cerebral Palsy, Congenital Hip Dysplasia, Tetanus, Porphyria and TB."

Viewers will also know that season 13 should see Trixie (Helen George) and Matthew settling into married life — however, it has been reported that Olly Rix, who plays Trixie's new husband has been written out of the show in a shock twist.

It seems there could be fresh heartache for Trixie after it was claimed by The Sun that Olly Rix will be written out. According to reports Olly was recently told about his character's departure from the show and insider reportedly told The Sun: "The news of Olly’s departure has left the cast and crew stunned and upset.

"They all thought he was a mainstay on the series after his prominent wedding scenes with Helen last season. Some feel it’s a bit unfair and he is well-liked by everyone. It felt very out of the blue. There is concern now among the remaining cast about not wanting to upset production and people are keeping their heads down.”

Olly's departure from the show is yet to be confirmed by the BBC and how his character Matthew will exit remains to be seen — we will update this guide if anything is officially announced.

• What happened to Lucille in Call the Midwife and has she left for good?  

Call the Midwife season 13 cast — who is returning for the new series and who will be joining the show?

It has been confirmed that most of the usual Call the Midwife cast will be back for the new season — however, there will be a few of our favorites sadly missing...

Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix) and Trixie Franklin (Helen George) will be returning as newlyweds Mr and Mrs Aylward.

Jenny Agutter will return as Sister Julienne along with Linda Bassett as Nurse Phyllis Crane, Rebecca Gethings as newcomer Sister Veronica, Georgie Glen as Miss Higgins and Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan.

Megan Cusack will also be returning as Nurse Nancy Corrigan even though her future was in doubt after the character was offered a new position at Netherditch Hospital. Francesca Fullilove will also be back as Nancy's daughter, Colette Corrigan,

Doctor Turner (Stephen McGann) and his family should also be back including his wife Shelagh Turner (Laura Main) and son Timothy Turner (Max Macmillan). Alice Brown is also returning as Angela Turner, April Rae Hoang as May Tang and Edward Shaw as Teddy Turner.

Cliff Parisi is also back as Fred Buckle, along with Annabelle Apsion as Violet Buckle and Daniel Laurie as Reggie Jackson.

Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) is also coming back, but sadly his wife Lucille Robinson, played by Leonie Elliott, won't be returning after it was confirmed at the end of season 12 that the character would be staying in Jamaica with her sister and mother. Lucille left Poplar in episode two of season 12 after she struggled with her mental health.

Sadly another two favorites who won't be returning for the new season are Sister Hilda, played by Fenella Woolgar and Sister Frances, played by Ella Bruccoleri. Both characters were written out in the Call the Midwife 2022 Christmas Special and are thought to not be returning.

There are also some new faces joining the cast. The first episode will see Nonnatus House kick off a new pupil midwife-training scheme which will welcome pupil midwives Joyce Highland and Rosalind Clifford. Both are excited by this new stage in their careers and move into Nonnatus House, sharing a room.

A Call the Midwife insider has revealed all about the new characters: "Joyce Highland hails from Trinidad and aims to become Matron of a British hospital. Hardworking, fiercely bright, and deeply kind, she has a traumatic past that she cannot conceal forever.

"Meanwhile, Rosalind Clifford is young, warm, passionate and funny. She may seem naive at times, but has an inner steeliness that will lead her to make some life-changing decisions.

Renee Bailey (Rebel Cheer Squad - A Get Even Series and Mood) joins the series as Joyce and Natalie Quarry (Doctors) will play Rosalind.

Is there a trailer for Call the Midwife season 13?

Not yet, but as soon as one is released we will add it to this guide.

What happened at the end of Call the Midwife season 12?

Call the Midwife is known for its big finale episodes. We had the famous train crash at the end of Call the Midwife season 11 and season 12's ending was no less dramatic.

There was a mixture of highs and lows for viewers as we watched Trixie and Matthew finally tie the knot in an elaborate wedding. But while Trixie and Matthew got their happily ever after, their big day was thrown into jeopardy when the venue for the reception burnt down and they were forced to have their wedding breakfast in the middle of the streets in Poplar.

But as always there was a tinge of sadness for some Call the Midwife favorites when a car crash left Dr Turner facing the biggest test of his career as he fought to save a precious life when an expectant mother was caught up in an accident on her way to the labor ward.

Call the Midwife series 12 ratings show that the series continues to be hugely popular with the Christmas special reaching 8.9 million and episode 1 hitting 8.1million.