Production has commenced on series 13 of Neal Street Productions’ Call the Midwife, which consists of a 90 minute Christmas special this year followed by 8x60 minute episodes in 2024 for BBC One and iplayer. The recent BBC announcement of a further two series (14 and 15) means that the multiple award-winning drama will be on air until 2026.

All the well-loved regular cast return for series 13 and, in the first episode, Nonnatus House 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 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.

Rosalind Clifford 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.

Renee Bailey joins the series as Joyce and Natalie Quarry plays Rosalind.

Renee's acting career has seen her star 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. Her theatre work includes Unknown Rivers at the Hampstead Theatre, and (This Isn't) A True Story at the Almeida Theatre.

Newcomer Natalie’s TV work includes Doctors for the BBC. Her recent theatre work includes Amphibian at The King's Head Theatre in 2021.

Series 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 series 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.

Regular cast returning are; 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.

Heidi Thomas OBE, creator and writer says; “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. 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?”

Dame Pippa Harris, executive producer says; “We’re so excited to be back for our thirteenth series, with all the treasured Nonnatus team returning - and also to welcome Renee and Natalie to the cast. They’re a wonderful addition to the show and I can’t wait for the audience to meet Joyce and Rosalind and to follow their journeys, by bicycle, through the streets and lives of Poplar’s residents. There’s so much in store for our audience this series, thanks to the perennial brilliance of Heidi Thomas, whose stories interweave joy, despair, love, history and medicine with a gorgeously diverse array of newborn babies.”

Call the Midwife series 12 ratings show that the series continues to be hugely popular with the Christmas special reaching 8.9 million and Episode 1 hitting 8.1million.

Commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, and Gaynor Holmes, Commissioning Editor for BBC Drama, Call the Midwife is made by All3Media’s Neal Street Productions for the BBC. The series is created, written and executive produced by Heidi Thomas, executive produced by Pippa Harris, for Neal Street Productions, and Ann Tricklebank who also serves as producer. Gaynor Holmes is the executive producer for the BBC. BBC Studios distribute Call the Midwife globally and have sold the series to over 240 territories worldwide and counting. Neal Street Productions celebrates its 20th anniversary year in 2023.