Call the Midwife season 12 arrived after a hugely successful Call the Midwife Christmas special 2022 kicked off the new series. The show has received rave reviews from fans in both the UK and the US who all enjoyed watching the drama from Poplar.
All our favorites from Nonnatus House returned, and after that proposal in the 2022 Christmas special, we knew there would be a wedding on the cards between Matthew Aylward and Trixie Franklin before the new season was over.
But while fans might already be watching Call the Midwife season 13, you might be wondering where you can still watch season 12 if you need to catch up.
Here is everything you need to know...
Call the Midwife season 12 — where to watch
After airing on PBS in the US earlier this year and on BBC One in the UK, Call the Midwife season 12 is now available, along with all other seasons of the show on Netflix in the US.
In the UK, all seasons are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Call the Midwife season 12 plot
When it comes to upcoming plots there is no shortage of drama unfolding at Nonnatus House. Show writer and creator Heidi Thomas 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."
We knew before the season aired that there would be a wedding between Matthew and Trixie after sneaky behind-the-scenes snaps saw the cast and crew filming a wedding, with Helen George (Trixie) and Olly Rix (Matthew) spotted leaving a church in a bridal dress and suit and with happy onlookers cheering behind them. Hurrah!
And, of course, there will always be the usual historical moments marked by the show, along with plenty of expectant mothers keeping the medical team on their toes as always.
What happened in Call the Midwife season 12 episode 1?
*WARNING — spoilers for season 12 ahead*
We returned to Poplar in April 1968 and there was panic at Nonnatus House as everyone tried to make a good impression on new recruit Sister Veronica. It quickly became clear she was no shrinking violet and quickly started to ruffle a few feathers.
But while Sister Veronica got her hands on a new scooter after turning her nose up at a pushbike from Fred, Lucille was going through a tough time as she continued to feel lost after her miscarriage. Things only got worse when she and husband Cyril were left unsettled by MP Enoch Powell’s inflammatory ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech...
Elsewhere Nancy and Trixie teamed up to support a terminally ill patient, and Fred was saddened to receive an official letter confirming the disbandment of the Civil Defence Corps — but he soon came up with a brilliant way to fill his spare time!
Trixie also had issues of her own when Matthew wanted her to meet his former in-laws ahead of their wedding. But meeting Fiona's parents was all a bit overwhelming for Trixie... even something a new outfit couldn't sort.
What happened in Call the Midwife season 12 episode 2?
In the second episode of the new season, Lucielle continues to struggle with her mental health as she battles to keep seeing patients at work. But when she meets an elderly man who appears to be as alone as she feels, Lucille is plunged further into her depression and eventually seeks help from Doctor Turner. Desperate to get his wife back to her full health, Cyril takes matters into his own hands.
Elsewhere, Sister Julienne meets heavily pregnant Lilian Reynolds, who is expecting her first child. However, after Lilian experiences some breast discomfort, she receives a devastating breast cancer diagnosis, but how will her cancer affect her pregnancy?
Meanwhile, Shelagh is organising the Whitsun Maypole celebrations at the eleventh hour. She enlists Cyril, Fred, Dr Turner, Sister Monica Joan, Sister Veronica, Nancy, Violet and Miss Higgins to help, but the preparations for a Maypole dance routine are far from smooth... can the community pull together and put on the celebration they all deserve?
What happened in Call the Midwife season 12 episode 3?
In the third episode, a carefree Nancy continues to spoil Colette with new gifts, but deep down she knows she is spending more than she can afford, especially when she has to ask Fred to open a second tab for her at the newsagents. When she gets a final payment demand in the post, Nancy asks Nurse Crane for additional duties but her request doesn't quite go as she'd hoped.
As health visitor, Sister Veronica visits the Talbot family and is delighted to see them celebrating a joyous occasion. Single mum, Sandy has just married Joe Talbot who treats her children, Peter and Ann Marie, like his own. However, Sister Veronica is shaken when Sandy reveals a terrible truth about her marriage and encourages her to seek help. Can Sister Veronica get brave Sandy the help that she so desperately needs?
Meanwhile, kinks remain in Sister Veronica and Nurse Crane’s working relationship — can these two ever get along?
What happened in Call the Midwife season 12 episode 4?
In the fourth episode, Nurse Crane is left doubting her abilities as a midwife after her age is called into question while attending a ventouse training course at St Cuthbert’s. Soon she finds herself summoned to a meeting with the Board of Health and suffers a crisis of confidence whilst overseeing the care of Simone and Larry Lucas who are expecting their second child.
Meanwhile, Trixie enjoys caring for Vinita Khatri, who is expecting her third child. However, the maternity home is thrown into chaos when an emergency outbreak of gastroenteritis is declared. The team, joined by Sister Monica Joan, must dig deep to ensure all mothers and newborn babies recover from the worrying outbreak - but soon one of the babies gets very poorly indeed.
Also, Reggie is home from the Glasshouse Village, but he is not his usual self. He is drained of energy and suffering some hair loss, and convinced he is going to die as his mother did... however, Cyril becomes a listening ear for his friend and encourages Reggie to seek help so that they can finally get some answers.
What happened in Call the Midwife season 12 episode 5?
In episode 5 Nancy oversees the care of Jill Mellor and her newborn baby, Mylene, a child she has had out of wedlock with Spencer Wray, a young man from the West Indies. Jill and Spencer live with his kind-hearted mother, Florence. Not long after the birth, Spencer’s behavior starts to raise concerns as it becomes increasingly erratic. Worried, Nancy calls on Dr Turner who refers Spencer for an urgent psychiatric review, but as Spencer’s condition deteriorates more rapidly, things take a very unexpected and shocking turn — leaving Matthew and Cyril in grave danger.
Dr Turner and Sister Veronica also arrange a men’s health talk at the surgery to discuss male contraception and a new procedure, the vasectomy, while Nurse Crane cares for Annette Berkley, who has rheumatic heart disease and has gone against doctors' advice and fallen pregnant again.
Finally, Matthew’s father, Sir Brigham, visits Poplar, relations between father and son are somewhat frosty at best. Matthew’s opinion of Poplar is markedly different from his father’s, and while Matthew wants to invest more money in the borough, Sir Brigham wants to sell up. With relations at an all-time low, Trixie is left to deliver Matthew some heartbreaking news when Sir Brigham's health takes a terrible turn.
What happened in Call the Midwife season 12 episode 6?
In episode six Trixie is getting ever closer to tying the knot with her beloved Matthew, but the preparations for the big day are not going smoothly, which is making the bride-to-be rather nervous. But she soon has more to worry about than bridesmaid dresses and wedding readings when she tries to help a troubled teenage mum who has a difficult relationship with her parents.
Meanwhile, the ever-determined Sister Veronica sets up a clinic with Dr Turner to check on the health of Poplar’s working children, but one of Fred’s paperboys gives cause for concern when it becomes clear he is very poorly indeed. And look out for some lovely scenes as lonely Sister Monica Joan forges a secret new friendship with Nothing the dog — just when we thought we couldn't love her more!
What happened in Call the Midwife season 12 episode 7?
The seventh episode of the season sees the plight of the homeless brought movingly into the spotlight as Nancy — whose confidence and compassion grow by the week — helps a young couple who are expecting their second baby and find themselves with nowhere to live after being thrown out of their caravan. The case also leads Matthew and Trixie to investigate what can be done to improve the dire housing situation and Cyril, who has returned from Jamaica but without his wife Lucille, volunteers at a shelter where a troubled young man comes to his attention.
Meanwhile, Dr. Turner deals with a hepatitis outbreak, and Shelagh supports a worried older mum-to-be. But there’s also joy in store from a local family photo contest, and Trixie puts the finishing touches to her wedding plans.
What happened in the Call the Midwife season 12 finale?
The countdown to Trixie and Matthew's wedding officially begins in the season's final episode, with Sister Veronica taking charge of organising the wedding gifts, while the bride's brother Geoffrey arriving and setting out to arrange the perfect hen party. However, the nuptials cause stress levels to escalate as a catalogue of disasters threaten to spoil the day — but thankfully Trixie's friends and family are there to help make her special day one she will never forget.
Meanwhile, a car crash leaves Dr Turner facing the biggest test of his career when he left to save a precious life and Sister Julienne hatches a plan to save Nonnatus House once and for all. Also, Nancy considers her and Colette's future, but does this mean she is leaving her role as Poplar midwife?
Who returned to Call the Midwife for season 12?
All the usual Call the Midwife cast came back for the new season.
Not only did Jenny Agutter return as Sister Julienne after her brush with death in season 11, but she was joined by Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt), Nurse Nancy Corrigan (Megan Cusack), Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett) and Miss Higgins (Georgie Glen).
Regulars Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi), Violet Buckle (Annabelle Apsion) and Reggie Jackson (Daniel Laurie) also returned, along with Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix).
Doctor Turner and his family were back including his wife Shelagh Turner (Laura Main) and son Timothy Turner (Max Macmillan).
There was also a new face in Poplar as Rebecca Gethings joined the show as Sister Veronica. Fans of the have already seen that there is no messing with Sister Veronica, and she is certainly a character who tells it like it is... although perhaps with a little embellishment along the way!
Sister Veronica joined the medical team at Nonnatus House as a health visitor in the community. She has previously worked in Hong Kong alongside formidable Mother Superior Mother Mildred (Miriam Margolyes) and turned down a pushbike from Fred — the traditional mode of transport for the community nurses — instead preferring a rather nippy scooter!
Leonie Elliott's Nurse Lucille Robinson and her onscreen husband Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) were also back for the start of season 12 but sadly there was a departure when Lucille left Poplar in episode two. Lucille's departure came after she struggled with her mental health, and she eventually went to Jamaica to be with her sister and mother. Actress Leonie Elliott confirmed the news she had now left the soap, meaning Lucille's husband Cyril is now facing life in the UK without her.
Is Trixie back for season 12 of Call the Midwife?
Yes! It was revealed back in 2022 that fan favourite Helen George, who plays Trixie Franklin, had started filming once again after taking a break from the show mid-way through season 11 to go on maternity leave with her second daughter, Lark.
What happened at the end of Call the Midwife season 11?
The penultimate episode of Call the Midwife season 11 saw a huge train crash unfold, leaving the lives of Dr Turner and Sister Julienne hanging in the balance. Fans were beside themselves as they waited to find out the fate of the two main characters, but while it was touch and go for a bit, viewers were thrilled to see both Dr Turner and Sister Julienne make it through the ordeal and feel fit and well again by the end of the series.
There was a heart-warming moment where the entire gang at Nonnatus House had a group photo, with even Nurse Crane returning from her extended holidays to get everyone in order and pull them through the train crisis.
Is there a trailer for Call the Midwife season 12?
Yes, and it shows all things we love the most about Call the Midwife... from expectant mothers and caring midwives to dramatic births!
Will there be a Call the Midwife season 13?
Yes, you can watch plenty more drama from Poplar in the Call the Midwife Christmas special 2023, as well as in season 13 which will see episodes available on BBC iPlayer from Sunday, January 7, 2024.
The show has also been commissioned for a further two seasons, meaning we won't be seeing the back of our Nonnatus House favorites for a long time yet!
