Call the Midwife season 11 came to an end in February 2022, and now we're patiently waiting for season 13 of Call the Midwife to begin in 2024.
Whether you're new to Call the Midwife and need a recap of season 11 or you've loved the series from the start and never missed an episode, it's always nice to have a reminder of what's happened before you start the new series.
What happened in Call the Midwife season 11?
Romance in Poplar
At the start of series 11, the story finds itself in 1967. One of the first new characters we're introduced to is Nonnatus houses' new benefactor, Matthew Aylward. As Matthew recovers from the loss of his wife, he begins to form feelings for Nurse Trixie Franklin (played by Helen George), and as the pair become closer, they form a relationship.
And that's not the only romance in Poplar. Nurse Lucille Anderson (played by Leonie Elliot) and her partner Cyril Robinson are planning for a Christmas wedding. Despite the fact everything seems to be going wrong in the lead up to their nuptials, everything gets fixed in time for the two to marry. Midway through the series, Lucille falls pregnant, but shortly after, she very sadly suffers a miscarriage.
Cultural and medical advancements
Each new season comes with a new focus on medical conditions and illnesses the midwifes and doctors are still learning more about. Season 11 touches on cervical cancer, the measles vaccination and breastfeeding difficulties. This series also faces cultural changes including the decriminalisation of both homosexuality and abortion.
New nurses and adventures overseas
This series sees Nurse Nancy Corrigan pass her midwifery exams to become a fully fledged employee of Nonnatus House after season 10 of Call the Midwife saw her in training. In the first episode, Nancy tells Collette that she's in fact her mum, not her sister. She later tries to find somewhere for the two of them live, but it comes with its difficulties.
Midway through the series, Nurse Trixie Franklin travels to Portofino in Italy where her mother is dying. Nurse Phyllis Crane (played by Linda Bassett) is also on the move as she decides to take a trip to Europe after coming up in the premium bonds.
There's also a new neighbour on the scene in the form of Dr Turner's (played by Stephen McGann) new receptionist, Miss Higgins, who moves into the cottage previously owned by Tom and Barbara Hereward.
A dramatic finale
In the penultimate episode, a train crash and derailment brings tragedy to the community. Dr Turner and Sister Julienne were on the train at the time of the crash, leaving us with a dramatic cliffhanger ending. The good news is that both Dr Turner and Sister Julienne make a full recovery from the incident.
Call the Midwife season 12
Season 12 of Call the Midwife is the most recent series. This series sees Nurse Trixie get married to Matthew, Sister Veronica is the new nurse on the scene and Lucille returns to Jamaica.
Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.