The 'Call the Midwife' Christmas Special 2023 Trailer Is Full of Festive Vibes

Holiday traditions are an important part of the Christmas season, from buying a tree and putting up decorations to cooking elaborate meals with friends and family. For Anglophiles, that often means throwing ourselves into that most British of holiday entertainment traditions: The Christmas special. Though the idea has never really caught on in America, special festive episodes of popular programs meant to air on and around Christmas Day are wildly popular in the U.K., which means some of the biggest series are lining up to drop holiday programs, and this year's offerings include heavy hitters like Doctor Who, Death in Paradise and the U.K. version of Ghosts. 

Popular period drama Call the Midwife's heartwarming feel and cozy vibes make it a perfect Christmas episode candidate, which is probably why it's aired a holiday special each year since it premiered in 2012. The 2023 installment will be its 12th festive special, and sounds as though it will hit several holiday highs and lows. Set a few weeks before Christmas 1968, with Apollo 8 poised to circle the moon, the hour promises to deal with storylines as diverse as Sister Monica Joan's conviction that she's celebrating her last holiday season, the Turners' emotional indecision about what to do when a gift arrives from May's biological mother, and Matt and Trixie's newlywed struggles as they try to navigate their first Christmas together. 

Of course, if the trailer is anything to go by, there's also no shortage of seasonal warmth and charm, along with an adorable baby or two. (It is Call the Midwife, after all.)

Here's the holiday special synopsis. 

Call the Midwife’s Christmas Special begins two weeks before Christmas with Apollo 8 poised to circle the moon. Sister Monica Joan is convinced this could be her last Yuletide and decides she’ll not live to see a man walk on the moon. The Nonnatus family, including Trixie’s brother Geoffrey, decides something must be done to try to lighten her state of mind. Trixie and Matthew, fresh from their honeymoon, are preparing their first Christmas together as husband and wife when Geoffrey pays them an unexpected visit days before Christmas. 

Nancy has recommitted to staying at Nonnatus House, and Sister Julienne has offered her and Colette a room for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Cyril gently intervenes when he discovers a lost soul living alone in a dilapidated basement flat. For this man, Christmas is a reminder of all he’s lost and all he’s never had. Nurse Crane, away on her refresher course, makes it home in time for Christmas festivities despite a treacherously heavy snowfall.

The current crop of Call the Midwife cast members are all back to celebrate the holidays, including Helen George as Trixie Aylward, Olly Rix as her new husband Matthew Aylward, Linda Bassett as Nurse Crane, Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan, and Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne. Laura Main plays  Shelagh Turner, with Stephen McGann as Dr. Patrick Turner, Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle, Annabelle Apsion as Violet Buckle, and Megan Cusack as Nurse Nancy Corrigan, alongside Georgie Glen as Miss Millicent Higgins, Zephryn Taitte as Cyril Robinson, Rebecca Gethings as Sister Veronica, and Daniel Laurie as Reggie Jackson. The holiday special will also feature Christopher Harper reprising his role as Trixie's brother, Geoffrey, and Francesca Fullilove as Nancy's daughter Colette.

The Call the Midwife Christmas special will air on Christmas Day on most PBS stations, as well as stream on PBS Passport. Season 13 will premiere later this Spring on Sunday, March 17, 2023.