‘Call The Midwife’ Season 13 Begins Filming, Annouces New Castmembers
Neal Street Productions has announced ‘Call the Midwife‘ Season 13 has begun filming, which consists of a 90-minute Christmas special this year followed by an eight-episode season in 2024 for BBC One and iPlayer. They have also revealed some new cast members who will be joining the drama.
Season 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 hospital 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 season 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.
Nonnatus House also kicks off a new pupil midwife-training scheme, welcoming 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.
Joyce Highland (Renee Bailey) 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. Bailey previously starred as series regular Leila in BBC/Netflix’s popular series ‘Rebel Cheer Squad – A Get Even Series’, as well as the recurring role of Paris in the BAFTA-winning series ‘Mood’ for BBC Three/Bonafide
Rosalind Clifford (Natalie Quarry) 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. Quarry is a relative newcomer to TV, but has appeared previously in ‘Doctors’ for the BBC. Her recent theatre work includes ‘Amphibian’ at The King’s Head Theatre in 2021.
They join the regular returning cast including Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan, Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne, Laura Main as Shelagh Turner, Helen George as Trixie Aylward, Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle, Stephen McGann as Dr Turner, Linda Bassett as Nurse Crane, Megan Cusack as Nancy Corrigan, Annabelle Apsion as Violet Buckle, Georgie Glen as Miss Higgins, Zephryn Taitte as Cyril Robinson, Olly Rix as Matthew Aylward, Rebecca Gethings as Sister Veronica, Daniel Laurie as Reggie Jackson, Max Macmillan as Timothy Turner, Alice Brown as Angela Turner, Francesca Fullilove as Colette Corrigan, April Rae Hoang as May Tang and Edward Shaw as Teddy Turner.
“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,” comments Heidi Thomas OBE, creator and writer. “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. And yet even as man prepares to walk on the moon, we see them grappling with life’s eternal questions. Who are we? What is love? And where do we belong?”
‘Call the Midwife’ has already been renewed for two further seasons (14 and 15) keeping the multiple award-winning drama will be on air until 2026. Season 12 of the drama continued to be hugely popular with the Christmas special reaching 8.9 million and Episode 1 hitting 8.1 million.
‘Call the Midwife‘ returns in Christmas 2023 with a special, followed by Season 13 in Early 2024. If you want to keep track of this, or any other show, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
