The Call the Midwife 2022 Christmas special marks the start of Call the Midwife season 12, which will kick off in January 2023 in the UK and in March for the US, but first we have got a holiday special to look forward to which promises to be the highlight of this year's Christmas TV.
This year's Christmas special looks as heart-warming and action-packed as in previous years, plus — spoiler alert — we also know there is going to be a proposal! Helen George, who plays Trixie Franklin told us that her character is about to get swept off her feet by her lovely boyfriend, Matthew: "The proposal’s lovely and I had a say in the ring! Matthew has to come up with something spectacular to blow Trixie away, there have to be fireworks!"
But that's not all that is in store for Trixie at Christmas in 1967... "They both get involved in the talent show too. Trixie gets out her hula hoop with her keep fit girls and she watches Matthew sing and falls in love with him even more."
Here's everything we know about the Call the Midwife Christmas Special...
- Find out what else is on TV this festive season with our jam-packed UK Christmas TV Guide
Call the Midwife 2022 Christmas special release date
This year's Call the Midwife Christmas episode will air at 7.55 pm on BBC One on Christmas Day.
In the US the air date for the Call the Midwife Christmas special has also been confirmed by PBS and will air on Sunday, December 25 at 9 pm ET.
Helen George has revealed it is an episode not to be missed: "It's an amazing episode. We've done Christmas specials for 11 years now and everybody loves them and they're very Christmassy, emotional, beautiful and powerful. But it feels like we are moving forwards as we’re pushing to the end of the 60s now, so it’s still Christmassy but it feels fresh. It’s like a big box of chocolates with shiny lovely wrappers and each story is carefully told."
Call the Midwife 2022 Christmas Special plot
As always with Call the Midwife there are serious subjects to tackle, so alongside the fun of Trixie and Matthew's engagement, there is also the return of the Mullucks family, whose little girl Susan (Emily Webb) was born with disabilities due to the thalidomide scandal, which was explored back in series five.
Susan is now struggling to adjust to wearing artificial limbs, while mum Rhoda (Liz White) is concerned about the imminent birth of her fourth baby and dad Bernie (Chris Reilly) is drowning his sorrows in drink.
Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett) also tackles a moving case when she and Miss Higgins (Georgie Glen) encounter a pregnant young woman Cindy (Jesse Akele) who ends up in dire straits after she is released from prison.
But there’s fun to be had when the community comes together after handyman and newsagent Fred (Cliff Parisi) organizes a talent show — Poplartunity Knocks — featuring some surprising turns from some of the locals.
We also know that filming has managed to get back to some form of normality for the cast and crew after the pandemic. The show posted another behind-the-scenes snap, this time of Dr Turner holding a baby... something that wasn't allowed due to social distancing rules during the filming of the last season.
The caption on the picture read: "Behind the scenes on the new Call the Midwife Christmas Special: Dr Turner gets back to baby holding! The filming of this current festive episode has marked a moving return to business for our cast. The easing of the toughest pandemic restrictions after two long years has meant that our cast are now able to interact more freely once again. This has been a real joy for our team - but none more so than for our own Dr Turner, actor Stephen McGann, who can now return to his favourite on-set hobby: meeting and holding our adorable newborns!!"
Who is in the cast for the Call the Midwife 2022 Christmas special?
From the behind-the-scenes snaps above we know one thing for sure, Helen George is back as fan favorite Trixie Franklin. Viewers will remember that in Call the Midwife season 11 Trixie jetted off to Italy to take care of her dying godmother, while Helen George was on maternity leave. Helen has since welcomed her second child into the world and is now back filming once again.
With Trixie set to appear in the upcoming Christmas special, fans could be seeing even more from her romance with Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix) which developed in season 11, with the two even sharing a kiss. Could there be a Christmas proposal on the cards?
As well as Trixie, it is thought that all the usual Call the Midwife cast will also be back for the new season.
Not only will Jenny Agutter return as Sister Julienne after her brush with death in season 11, but it is thought she will be joined by Sister Hilda (Fenella Woolgar) Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt), Nurse Nancy Corrigan (Megan Cusack), Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett), Sister Frances (Ella Bruccoleri) and Miss Higgins (Georgie Glen).
Leonie Elliott's Nurse Lucille Robinson and her onscreen husband Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) are also thought to be returning.
Regulars Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi), Violet Buckle (Annabelle Apsion) and Reggie Jackson (Daniel Laurie) are also believed to be back, along with Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix), who started a romance with Trixie during the last season.
Doctor Turner and his family will also return including his wife Shelagh Turner (Laura Main) and son Timothy Turner (Max Macmillan).
There is also a new face in Poplar when Sister Veronica (played by Rebecca Gethings), a caring but gung-ho nun makes her debut in the opener of the new series as a health visitor. "She isn't shy and retiring," Rebecca told us. "She means well, but puts her foot in it a lot and ruffles feathers because she wants to make a change, and if she has to tell fibs to do that, then she will."
Call the Midwife 2022 Christmas special behind the scenes images
Earlier this year some sneaky behind the scenes images were released while the cast and crew were filming. Take a look below...
Is there a trailer for the Call the Midwife 2022 Christmas special?
Not yet, but as soon as a trailer for the Christmas special is released we will add it to this guide.
The Call the Midwife 2022 festive special is heading to our screens this Christmas — see our TV guide for full listings.
Past series of Call the Midwife are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK and PBS in the US. 2023 will see Call the Midwife season 12.
