Is Call the Midwife ending? All you need to know about the BBC series’ fate

Since the first season of Call the Midwife aired in 2012, viewers have been enraptured by the day-to-day lives of the midwives of Nonnatus House. The series wrapped up its 15th season on Sunday with an emotional finale as fans said goodbye to one longstanding character. 

Following such a heartbreaking and dramatic end to the season there’s one question likely plaguing fans: Will the show return for a 16th season? Here’s all you need to know about the fate of Call the Midwife – plus the exciting spin-offs already in the works.

Is Call the Midwife ending?

The series creator Heidi Thomas weighed in on the fate of the series ahead of the season 15 finale. “I don’t think it’s the last series in the classic form,” she revealed to the publication Yours. “But we are going to take a break from it for a couple of years.”

“We going to do a film that involves most the current cast, set in 1972, possibly 1973,” she explained the hiatus from the original show is to work on a spin-off film. “We’re going to do that first, then we’ll return to the current style.”

She continued: “Series 16 will have a slightly different setting because of changes in NHS. It’ll still be in the East End of London but possibly something like a small community hospital or a GP practice, but that’s something I’ll be working on later this year.” It seems season 16 is on the way, with the BBC reportedly also confirming the news. 

One of the leading ladies of Call the Midwife, Helen George, who plays Trixie opened up about the break in their filming schedule, but confirmed it’s “just a pause”. 

“We’ve all been saying that we’ll feel it most in April because that’s when we usually start filming,” Helen told Radio Times in an interview with her co-star Laura Main when discussing if they’d miss being away from the show. “So when that comes around and we don’t, we won’t have the support network and community that work has given us,” she explained. 

© BBC / Neal Street Productions / Sally Mais

She continued: “And it is just a pause because we know it’s coming back. But it won’t be the same, with different characters leaving and whatever.”

Will there be a prequel?

Call the Midwife fans don’t fret, the show is not only coming back for a film, but the BBC has confirmed a prequel series is in the works starring several fan-favourite characters. The show’s creator Heidi revealed at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026 that the prequel will follow Sister Julienne, Sister Evangelina and Sister Monica Joan during the Second World War. 

Fans can expect the prequel series to arrive on their screens in 2026. 

What to know about the Call the Midwife film

Along with a prequel, Call the Midwife is joining the likes of Downton Abbey to get the feature film treatment. Details of the film are being kept under wraps, but we do know it will be set in the early ’70s. While the location has not been confirmed, rumours have pointed to Australia as a potential setting for the new instalment.