CALL The Midwife treated fans to a double helping of drama this Christmas – and it delivered more than just babies.
Set in 1969 this time, the two episodes followed the Poplar residents as they faced various hurdles and hardships.
The Nonnatus midwives were stretched to the max delivering babies, while other characters contended with influenza and the Hong Kong flu.
It led to some heartbreaking moments, particularly the death of an elderly lady who lived alone in her London flat and was found dead in her bed.
Her passing didn’t just have an impact on the nuns, it also left me feeling saddened to my core, knowing that even now, there are people who face crippling isolation at Christmas.
Last year’s Call The Midwife Christmas Special saw the community put on a living tableau of the Nativity to lift the spirits of Sister Monica Joan.
Meanwhile the previous year featured a charming festive talent show, but this year’s Christmas Special definitely had a more darker tone overall.
Indeed, the cast had previously warned it would have a “Dickensian” tone to it, and they weren’t wrong.
While a Christmas fun fair did come to town, the main storylines of the double bill were significantly more sombre.
As well as the old lady’s death, another big storyline through the two episodes was about Dilys, a mother-of-three who was heavily pregnant with her fourth child.
Dilys and her husband were kicked out of their home by bailiffs, before her spouse became sick in their new one-room squalor.
Dilys was played by The Traitors‘ Maddy Smedley and I have to say, I was impressed by her scenes.
In fact, I’d love to see the family join the show on a more regular basis so we could follow their progress.
Despite their desperate situation, Dilys found a way to spark the magic of Christmas and imagination in her eldest daughter, highlighting how there is always hope even in the darkest of times.
And that is something Call the Midwife is always able to do, deliver strong messages through its storytelling while tugging on everyone’s heartstrings.
This all maybe sounds quite bleak, but there were moments of festive joy in the episodes.
I’m a sucker for a romance and I was all in within seconds of Nancy Corrigan clapping eyes on handsome Irishman Roger, a tranquilliser salesman – and that’s not just because my own boyfriend is Irish!
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.
Aside from his lovely accent, the spark between him and Nancy was palpable immediately, and while she was hesitant about going on a date with him initially because of her daughter, his gentle but determined perseverance saw her open up and have fun.
Viewers have seen Nancy juggle being a single parent in past seasons, and her relationship with daughter Colette is a beautiful thing to see.
So it was a lovely pay off to see her finally give herself a chance at romantic happiness with Roger, and at Christmas no less, so magical!
I really hope Roger is around for the long haul and will be gutted if their relationship doesn’t continue into series 14, which is due in the New Year.
Finally, I’m highly intrigued to see how the BBC show approaches Trixie’s storyline in series 14, and how much she actually features.
Helen George only made a fleeting appearance in the Christmas Day episode, while the Boxing Day one saw Trixie open up about her new life in New York with husband Matthew.
It’s clear that Trixie isn’t completely content in the Big Apple, but that there is a lot of love still there for Matthew.
While she touched on returning to London when she can, I feel like there needs to be a resolution one way or another for the character and the actress.
But if show bosses do bring Trixie back full time without Matthew, they need to make sure they do it in a convincing way.
Fans have rooted for Trixie and her finally finding happiness with Matthew, so it would be a shame if she returns alone for a flimsy reason.
But knowing the strength of the writing on Call the Midwife, I’m sure everyone is in safe hands.
Call the Midwife is available on BBC iPlayer, and series 14 begins in early 2025.
