Call the Midwife season 12 release date: Latest news on BBC drama

And the rest of the season is likely to follow suit in the same emotional way. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party, series stars Helen George and Olly Rix revealed how important it was for viewers to see more intimate, supportive scenes between Trixie and Matthew, calling them "pivotal" to the storyline and the characters.

But of course, with any popular series, the question of how long it'll continue on for always looms in fans' minds. While the future of Call the Midwife beyond season 13 is still a very large question mark for fans, Megan Cusack told RadioTimes.com: "We haven't heard any [news], but we never know anything."

Similarly, Laura Main (Nurse Shelagh Turner) previously told the Sunday Express: "[Season 13] was announced a long time ago, but we don’t know about 14.

"We haven't heard anything. I honestly don't know anything about beyond 13. Not yet."

Nonetheless, we do know that creator Heidi Thomas has lots in store for fans. Thomas previously told RadioTimes.com that she would like to explore the 1970s in future seasons, saying: "There are so many stories to tell, medically, socially, even emotionally, and I think we could keep on going."

When season 12 and 13 were announced, Thomas said: "It’s an incredible privilege to be able to look back on a decade of Call the Midwife, and yet know that our journey is still very far from over. We are thrilled to be going on for a few more years!

“Like Nonnatus House itself, we have a proud past but an even more exciting future – full of old favourites, fresh faces, higher hemlines, new ideas. 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.”

With that, read on for everything you need to know about Call the Midwife season 12.

Call the Midwife season 12 release date

Call the Midwife season 12 continues on Sunday 5th February at 8pm, with previous episodes also available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Who will appear in Call the Midwife season 12?

The majority of the regular Call the Midwife cast have returned for the 12th season.

One new addition to the cast is Rebecca Gethings, who will be starring as Sister Veronica. Speaking about her character, she said: "She puts her foot in it a lot and she ruffles feathers. But she always does it for good. But she's not shy and retiring.

"She doesn't wait to be invited in. She just kind of bustles in and gets going because in terms of her ministry, she’s not worth anything unless she's making a change."

read the full list of Call The Midwife season 12's new and returning characters.

Call The Midwife season 12 plot

Season 12 will see life in Poplar returning to normal following the train crash at the end of season 11, with the Nonnatus House midwives welcoming a heavily pregnant Rhoda Mullucks back to the maternity unit, who is understandably worried after her last child was born with birth defects in season 5 after Dr Patrick Turner prescribed her thalidomide.

The new season will also chronicle medical advancements of the time and feature a ventouse birth for the first time, Thomas previously revealed.

"Again, we’re looking at some very strong stories about the way society was changing at that time,” she said.

Not all change we see will be positive, of course. The upcoming chapter will also be heavily influenced by Enoch Powell's inflammatory anti-immigration speech, which saw him dismissed from the Shadow Cabinet.

“In the very first episode of the new series, I realised the timing of that episode coincided exactly with Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech which made a huge difference, and not a very positive difference to race relations in Great Britain," Thomas explained.

"It was a big turning point for our society and the way we spoke of and behaved towards people who had come here from other countries, so that was something we felt we had to tackle.”

How many more seasons of Call the Midwife will there be?

Call the Midwife has been re-commissioned by the BBC for season 12 (2023) and season 13 (2024), which should take viewers up to 1969 or even the 1970s when it comes to the show's timeline.

Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama, said: “The enduring popularity of Call the Midwife is a testament to the extraordinary love and creativity from its creator Heidi Thomas and its producers Pippa Harris and Ann Tricklebank.

"We are delighted to have secured the future of Call the Midwife for two further series beyond those which are currently in production, and look forward to enjoying more adventures for the inhabitants of Nonnatus House for years to come.”

When RadioTimes.com caught up with the show's stars Helen George, Megan Cusack and Olly Rix exclusively at the Radio Times Covers Party, the trio revealed that they didn't know about the status of any future seasons beyond season 13.

Helen George said: "We know nothing, yeah. We'll wait and see but we've got one more season which is amazing." Meanwhile, Rix agreed that they will have to "wait and see".

Is there a Call the Midwife season 12 trailer

There most certainly is! Watch it below.

Call the Midwife continues on Sunday 5th February at 8pm and is also available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight.

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