CALL the Midwife’s Christmas Specials were missing one popular character – while another failed to return.
The hit BBC show returned for the second of two festive episodes tonight, proving a double delight for fans.
The episodes were set in 1969 and saw the residents of Poplar dealing with influenza and the Hong Kong flu, as well as a number of babies arriving in time for Christmas.
Two members of the Turner family were struck down with the illnesses, Doctor Patrick Turner (Stephen McGann) and his young son Teddy, which wasn’t ideal for the GP as the surgery was stretched to breaking point already.
However, one member of the family failed to appear in either episode.
Actor Max Macmillan plays Patrick’s eldest son from his first marriage, Timothy, who is training to be a doctor just like his dad.
Timothy has been a part of Call the Midwife since series two, and viewers have seen him grow from a boy into a young man.
He has left Poplar to go to medical school, but while he returned to his family home in the 2023 Christmas Special, there was sadly no sign of him this year.
Max wasn’t the only character to be absent from the festive proceedings.
While Helen George returned towards the end of the Christmas Day episode as Trixie Franklin, her husband Matthew – played by Olly Rix – was not with her.
The couple had moved to New York at the end of series 13 after Matthew received a much-needed business opportunity.
While Trixie mentioned Matthew and planned to return to the Big Apple after Christmas in the special, it looks like fans won’t be seeing the handsome character on their screens any time soon.
This coincides with rumours last September that Olly had been written out of the show.
The actor also hinted at his exit from the series in February, telling Digital Spy: “It’s great being part of the Call the Midwife family. For now.
“You’ve got to watch to the end of this series. There are a few surprises ahead, a few bumps in the road.
“We’ll see how much longer I’m part of the family!”
Meanwhile viewers were also surprised to spot a star of The Traitors in the Christmas episodes.
Call The Midwife first came onto the airwaves in 2012 and has been seen by millions. But what is it about?
Series one: Set in early 1957 and it explored the ‘Baby Boom generation, which included themes of poverty and post-war immigration.
Series two: Set in 1958 and it showed gas and air being introduced for pain relief for the first time. It ended with the Nonnatus House building being condemned.
Series three: Set in 1959 and it depicted gruesome conditions such as cystic fibrosis, polio and it showed the midwives in the context on prisons.
Series four: Set in 1960 under the threat of nuclear warfare and the emergency response guidelines issued by the local Civil Defence Corp. Other themes included LGBT rights, and syphilis.
Series five: Set in 1961 and it shows the care of patients with conditions such as Typhoid and strokes. We also saw the effects of thalidomide, the introduction of the contraceptive pill.
Series six: Set in 1962 and domestic violence was at the centre of the season. Other themes included FGM (female genital mutilation), mental health issues and interracial marriage. It was also notable for the introduction of Reggie, a recurring character with Down Syndrome.
Series seven: Set in 1963 and we see Nurse Lucille Anderson for the first time. We also see the show address conditions such as dementia, huntington’s disease, leprosy and meningitis
Series eight: Set in 1964 and it bravely covered the issue of abortion, which was not legal for another three years in 1967. Sickle cell disease, cleft lip, cleft palate and intersex people also featured.
Series nine: Diptheria was at the centre of the ninth instalment in 1965, and it was notable for featuring a blind expectant mother. But the role of Nonnatus House within the community also came into question.
Series ten: Set in 1966, Nonnatus House has a rival in the form of the private Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair. PKU, diabetes and the controversy surrounding abortion were central themes.
Series eleven: Set in 1967 amid the housing crisis and a scabies epidemic. The show was rocked by a train crash right next to Nonnatus House.
Call the Midwife is available on BBC iPlayer.
