Holiday Special sees Nonnatus House transported to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. #MidwifePBS
Contains mature content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. Rated TV-14.
PBS is bringing back an exceptional holiday treat this year for viewers with the "Call The Midwife Holiday Special" airing on Christmas night, Sunday, December 25, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. Taking place in South Africa, this special will lead into Season 6 of the critically acclaimed British drama, which will return to PBS in Spring 2017.
As Poplar celebrates a white Christmas, Nonnatus House receives an SOS call from Hope Clinic, a tiny mission hospital in South Africa that is understaffed, underfunded and threatened with closure. Transported to South Africa and facing some of their toughest challenges, the Nonnatus family digs deep to try to save Hope Clinic and make a difference to the lives of the people who use it.
“CALL THE MIDWIFE remains an incredibly popular program among PBS stations and their viewers, and we are thrilled to offer a taste of the sixth season with this holiday special ahead of the spring premiere,” said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming, PBS. “The series has been praised for its compassionate and bold approach to issues including stillbirth, mental health, abortion, homosexuality, race and disability. We are thankful to be working with Neal Street and look forward to the special and Season 6.”
CALL THE MIDWIFE has been one of Britain’s most popular drama series since it launched in 2012 and it continues to be the most watched drama series in the UK. The series has received over 20 TV awards and nominations, including several from BAFTA, the Royal Television Society and at the National TV awards. Audiences and critics in the U.S. were equally effusive, with Season 3 breaking the top 10 spot in ratings on PBS. CALL THE MIDWIFE has been recommissioned by the BBC for a further three series, and three holiday specials, taking the nuns and midwives right into the mid 1960s.
Joining the holiday special as a guest star, is Sinead Cusack (JEKYLL & HYDE, "V For Vendetta") as Dr. Myra Fitzsimmonds. CALL THE MIDWIFE also stars Jenny Agutter (“The Railway Children,” SPOOKS) as Sister Julienne, Judy Parfitt (LITTLE DORRIT, "Girl With a Pearl Earring"), who was nominated for a 2013 Satellite Award for her work as Sister Monica Joan, Helen George (HOLLYOAKS, DOCTORS) as Trixie Franklin, Bryony Hannah ("Cemetery Junction") as Sister Mary Cynthia, Emerald Fennell ("Anna Karenina") as Patsy Mount, Stephen McGann (THE BILL) as a Dr. Patrick Turner, Jack Ashton (BROADCHURCH) as Tom Hereward, Ben Caplan (JUDGE JOHN DEED) as Sergeant Peter Noakes, Laura Main (MONARCH OF THE GLEN) as Shelagh Turner, Cliff Parisi (EASTENDERS) as Fred, Linda Bassett (“East Is East,” LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD) as Nurse Phyllis Crane, Charlotte Ritchie (LIFE OF RILEY, FRESH MEAT) as Nurse Barbara Gilbert, Victoria Yeates as Sister Winifred and Kate Lamb as Delia Busby. Harriet Walter (DOWNTON ABBEY, THE CROWN, "Atonement") will also be starring in Episode 1.
WATCH ON YOUR SCHEDULE:
CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL will be available to stream the morning after broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and PBS apps for iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast.
CALL THE MIDWIFE (Season 6) will be available in 2017 on DVD and Blu-ray. Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are now available on DVD and Blu-ray on shopPBS.org. Additional items, including Jennifer Worth’s memoirs, published by Penguin Books, and "The Life and Times of Call the Midwife," published by Harper Collins, are also available.
Holiday Special 2016 Official Trailer
"As Poplar celebrates a white Christmas
CREDITS:
CALL THE MIDWIFE is created and written by Heidi Thomas; executive producers are Pippa Harris and Heidi Thomas. Producer is Ann Tricklebank (UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, LARKRISE TO CANDLEFORD). The series is a Neal Street Production for BBC/PBS.
