Everything We Know About Call the Midwife Season 15, the Prequel and the Netflix Release
- Nov 21
- 6 min read
Call the Midwife has captivated audiences globally since its inception in 2012, charting the lives of midwives and nuns serving the East End of London, tracking decades of social and medical evolution. The beloved BBC series has been a fixture on television screens, and fans can rest assured that the Nonnatus House community is here to stay, as the show has been renewed not only through Season 15 but also for Season 16. Furthermore, the creators are expanding the universe with exciting additional projects, including a prequel series and a feature film. We dive into the upcoming details regarding the next chapter, including the expected UK and US Netflix Release dates for Call the Midwife Season 15, and a look at the anticipated Prequel series.
The Emotional End of Season 14
To fully appreciate where Nonnatus House is headed, it is helpful to look back at the key events that concluded Season 14. The finale was packed with significant personal milestones and community upheaval. Nancy (Megan Cusack) and Roger (Conor O’Donnell) returned to Poplar for their wedding, though their lodging plans were immediately complicated when a local fire forced a group of mothers and babies to seek shelter with the nuns and nurses.
Amidst the preparations, Nancy revealed she was seven months pregnant—a secret she was initially nervous to share with the nuns and her daughter, Collette (Francesca Fullilove). Collette was ultimately excited about becoming a big sister. However, Phyllis (Linda Bassett) worried Nancy might be further along than seven months, a suspicion proved true when Nancy gave birth to her daughter, Melinda, unexpectedly in the back of an ambulance. The finale also offered romance: Sister Veronica noticed the connection between Rosalind (Natalie Quarry) and Cyril (Zephryn Taitte), culminating in Cyril kissing Rosalind for the first time during the excitement of Nancy’s wedding reception. Meanwhile, Trixie (Helen George) was traveling to America to be a bridesmaid. Another powerful storyline concluded with pregnant teen Paula giving birth; she ultimately chose adoption so she could return to her childhood home, supported by her mother, who had a change of heart.
The Confirmed Future: Call the Midwife Season 15 and the Hong Kong Christmas Special
Filming has officially commenced on Season 15, which will consist of eight episodes. The new season is scheduled to debut in the U.K. in January 2026. Following the typical distribution schedule for the US, Call the Midwife Season 15 is expected to come out on PBS in the U.S. in March 2026.
The upcoming season will immediately immerse the Nonnatus team in the early 1970s, kicking off in 1971 with dramatic social changes, including several of the ladies embracing Women’s Lib and burning their bras outside Nonnatus House. The core staff will face a demanding caseload, including instances of premature birth, placenta previa, kidney cancer, tuberculosis, and sadly, slavery.
In addition to the main series, a two-part Christmas special is also currently filming, anticipated for release in December 2025. This holiday special is set to split its action between a snowy East End Poplar and the sun-drenched Far East, specifically Hong Kong. This geographical shift occurs because senior members of the Nonnatus House staff will head to Hong Kong on a mercy mission, leaving the younger midwives back home to cope alone. This mission prompts Sister Julienne to embrace change and feel excited about the Order’s future, deciding to work with the changes and "see what love can do".
Nonnatus House Casting Details
The beloved cast is set to return for Season 15. Confirmed names include established favorites such as Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan, Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne, Laura Main as Shelagh Turner, and Helen George as Trixie Aylward. Also confirmed are Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle, Stephen McGann as Dr Turner, Linda Bassett as Nurse Crane (Nurse Phyllis), and Georgie Glen as Miss Higgins. Other confirmed returns include Zephryn Taitte as Cyril Robinson and Natalie Quarry as Rosalind Clifford, whose relationship was just beginning to bloom in the Season 14 finale.
Expanding the Universe: The Prequel and Feature Film
Beyond the main series renewal, the BBC and Neal Street Productions are actively expanding the Call the Midwife universe, which Executive Producer Dame Pippa Harris noted was partly inspired by the desire to create stories for the "new, younger generation" of viewers who love the characters and their struggles.
Delving into the Deeper Past: The Prequel Series
One of the most exciting new projects is the Prequel TV series, which will “delve into the deeper past” of Poplar. The series is set during World War II, showcasing Poplar during the devastating Blitz. Creator and writer Heidi Thomas expressed that she had been "yearning" to explore the past lives of the Poplar women beyond the show’s current 1950s–1970s timeline. She added that the Blitz years were "extraordinary—filled with loss, togetherness, courage, and joy". Fans can expect to see “some familiar (if much younger) faces” in the cast, meaning current Call the Midwife characters will appear during a very formative period of their lives.
The second project is a feature film, which will feature the main cast of the original series and is set in 1972. While the exact location is "top secret," showrunner Heidi Thomas confirmed that the Nonnatus House group will “take a short break from Poplar and test themselves in an unfamiliar landscape” that will look "absolutely fantastic" on a movie screen. The streaming status of both the prequel and the film is currently unknown.
The US Streaming Landscape: Netflix Release
For US viewers, Netflix continues to serve as the platform for binge-watching past seasons, and its license to stream the series is currently secured through at least 2029.
The release schedule for Call the Midwife on Netflix in the US has been remarkably consistent, with new seasons typically arriving in September of the year they air on PBS. Following this pattern, Season 14 is expected to arrive on Netflix in September 2025.
Projecting forward, the new season, Call the Midwife Season 15, which airs in the UK in January 2026 and on PBS in March 2026, is expected to touch down on Netflix sometime in mid-September 2026. If this trend holds, Season 16 (which is already confirmed) would likely follow in 2027. While Netflix provides delayed access, PBS retains the first-run rights in the United States, allowing viewers who cannot wait until September 2026 to watch the season sooner.
Creator Heidi Thomas assures fans that despite the show’s longevity, she has "never run out of stories for our midwives, and I never will". This confidence is shared by PBS, whose Vice President of Programme Content Strategy noted that their audience has "fallen in love with the nuns and midwives," celebrating their wins and sharing their losses, often having a “deep cry” along with them.
🔖 Key Takeaways
The future of Call the Midwife is expansive and secure, with renewals confirmed through Season 16.
🗝️ Season 15 Details: Season 15 premieres in the UK in January 2026 and is expected to reach PBS in March 2026. The plot starts in 1971 and tackles challenging cases alongside themes of Women’s Lib.
🗝️ Holiday Special: The 2025 Christmas special will be a two-part event set in Hong Kong and Poplar, featuring a mercy mission for senior staff.
🗝️ Netflix Release Schedule: Following established patterns, the Call the Midwife Season 15 Netflix Release date for US subscribers is projected for mid-September 2026.
🗝️ Universe Expansion: Two spin-off projects are confirmed: a Prequel TV series set in Poplar during the WWII Blitz, which will feature younger versions of familiar characters, and a feature film set overseas in 1972.
🌐 External sources
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Call the Midwife Season 15
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