When Does The New Series Of Call The Midwife Start

Alright, let’s cut to the chase, because I know you’ve been refreshing your streaming queue with the same anxious hope I have. The new series of Call the Midwife—the beloved, heartwarming, and tear-jerking dose of 1960s Poplar—officially starts on Sunday, March 19th, at 8 p.m. on PBS (or your local BBC variant). Yes, mark your calendars, set your alarms, and maybe warn your family that you’ll be completely unavailable for that hour.

Why does this feel like such a big deal? Because in a world of gritty reboots and dark superhero dramas, this show is a hug in television form. It reminds us that kindness, community, and a bit of bicycle-riding in the fog can conquer almost anything.

The Antidote to Doomscrolling

Let’s be honest: the news cycle is a mess. You’ve probably spent the last few months staring at your phone, wondering if humanity has completely lost the plot. Then you remember Call the Midwife, and suddenly everything feels a little softer.

This series doesn’t shy away from tough stuff—it tackles poverty, racism, and heartbreaking loss—but it always wraps you in a warm blanket of hope. It’s the rare show that makes you cry happy tears while simultaneously wanting to volunteer at your local food bank.

What’s New This Season? (Spoiler Alert: More Babies, More Heart)

Season thirteen (yes, thirteen!) dives into the swinging sixties with dramatic new challenges. We’re talking about the arrival of the contraceptive pill, which creates both freedom and fierce debate among the midwives.

Plus, you’ll see a new face: Nurse Rosalind Clifford, played by the wonderfully earnest Natalie Quarry. She’s fresh from the motherhouse, all wide-eyed and eager, which means we get to relive that magical "first delivery" experience all over again.

And don’t worry—Sister Julienne’s steely kindness and Nurse Trixie’s impeccable hat game are very much alive and well. Expect at least one scene where you have to pause and grab a tissue.

Why Your Weekend Just Got More Fun

Here’s the secret sauce of this show: it makes you feel like you’re part of a village. You’ll find yourself saying things like, “Oh, I hope Mrs. Goggins is okay,” as if she’s your actual neighbor.

Plan a themed watch party. Decorate with a teacup, some digestive biscuits, and a cozy blanket. Invite a friend who also loves a good cry—you can debate whether Doctor Turner’s jumpers are getting more adventurous this season. (They are. He’s really leaning into mustard yellow.)

And here’s the kicker: you don’t need to have seen every episode. Jump in fresh. The show is brilliant at catching you up with little nods to the past. The emotional core—love, loss, and the miracle of birth—never changes.

Your Viewing Strategy (Because We’re Adults Who Plan)

Mark Sunday evenings as sacred. No plans. No interruptions. Maybe even make a pot of tea that you can sip dramatically when a baby finally takes its first breath.

If you’re behind, you have time. Binge the last season with the speed of a midwife on a call—it’s only eight episodes, and trust me, you’ll fly through them. Pro tip: have a box of tissues and a bar of chocolate ready for the season finale. You will blubber, and that’s perfectly okay.

The Uplifting Note You Needed Today

Here’s the truth: watching Call the Midwife isn’t just escapism. It’s a form of emotional medicine. It reminds us that even in the messiest moments—a freezing flat, a complicated labor, a fight for social justice—human beings choose to show up for each other.

So when that first episode plays, and you hear the nuns singing, and you see a tiny, wrinkly newborn wrapped in a blanket, remember this: you are part of that story. Your kindness matters. Your patience matters. Your ability to laugh, cry, and share a cup of tea with someone who’s struggling—that’s the real magic.

Bonus inspiration: While you wait, learn one cool thing about midwifery. Did you know that the first professional midwife training program in the UK started in 1902? Or that midwives today still use some techniques from the 1960s, like breathing exercises and encouragement? Read a little history, watch a documentary about modern midwives, or just call a grandma in your life and ask her about her own birth stories. You’ll realize these women are superheroes without capes.

So, get your pajamas ready. Charge the remote. And on March 19th, let yourself be swept away by the gentle, radiant, unapologetically hopeful world of Poplar. See you there—I’ll be the one crying into my tea, feeling deeply inspired to be a better human.