Get a Look Behind the Scenes at 'Call the Midwife' Season 8

Though we’re still a few months from the return of popular period drama Call the Midwife, filming on its upcoming season has been underway since May.

The drama was renewed through Season 9 back when it was only airing Season 6, so we haven’t – and won’t – need to worry about its fate for some time. (It honestly feels like a show that could go for as long as they can keep updating the cast every few years.)

Fenella Woolgar, Ella Bruccoleri and Georgie Glen will join the regular cast for Season 8, as Sister Hilda, Sister Frances and new receptionist Miss Higgins, while Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes will appear in the 2018 Christmas special and the first episode of the new full season.

Plenty of other big things are in store for the Nonnatus House, the community of Poplar and the U.K. at large, including the birth of another royal heir (who, if I have my timing right should be Prince Andrew).

At the start of series eight, it’s spring time in 1964 and everyone is excited for the Queen’s Royal birth. Violet is holding a Teddy Bears’ Picnic and raising funds through a competition on whether the Queen will have a boy or a girl. With the additions of the two new Sisters, who have been sent to live and work with the team in Poplar, Nonnatus House feels full once more. The midwives are introduced to their new midwifery bags, much to the distress of an already under the weather Sister Monica Joan who disturbingly absconds from Nonnatus House. Meanwhile, Nurse Crane is braced for a twin delivery but is confident the team can handle this smoothly.

The official Call the Midwife social media accounts have been sharing behind-the-scenes snaps from Season 8 filming all summer long, often throwing in a few tidbits about the characters and the series itself along the way.

Behind the scenes on #callthemidwife Series 8: The good doctor https://t.co/l984AWU7GW pic.twitter.com/IFU4R0fuJY

— Call The Midwife (@CallTheMidwife1) August 12, 2018

“Dr. Turner has seen many sartorial changes over the years - gradually transformed from that overworked, disheveled widower GP in 1957 to this rather dapper father and husband in 1964” says the CTM Facebook page.

Behind the scenes on #callthemidwife series 8: Lucille puts down roots https://t.co/7d114LxS63 pic.twitter.com/s8xTOC5J64

— Call The Midwife (@CallTheMidwife1) August 2, 2018

 “Lucille begins to put down roots in the country that invited her, and in the neighbourhood that needs her skills so badly. It's a country convulsed by cultural, social and economic change - midway through a decade that will ultimately define a century of British progress,” the Facebook team explains.

Behind the scenes on #callthemidwife series 8: Beyond the habit https://t.co/BSmRww9EU9 pic.twitter.com/WITdzRFf0D

— Call The Midwife (@CallTheMidwife1) July 15, 2018

“This lovely shot from behind the scenes on series 8 shows Jenny Agutter (Sr Julienne) in solitary reflection. Her habit is unworn. She is Julienne the woman - without uniform, and with only her own thoughts and cares,” says a Facebook post from mid-July.

“It's humans that do good, not the uniform they wear to do it. It's humanity that informs the work these people do, not the prayers that guide them through it. Nonnatus House is a religious community, but a community ultimately defined by the quality of the people it sustains.” (Seriously whoever is writing these Facebook descriptions? Totally gets this show.)

Season 8 will skip forward a few years to 1964, which of course means the series’ fashion is going to evolve accordingly:

Behind the scenes on #callthemidwife series 8: @JenniferKirby08 and @Leonie_Elliott enjoying summertime 1964! pic.twitter.com/Nis542Pjtl

— Call The Midwife (@CallTheMidwife1) June 28, 2018

What else can we expect this season? Apparently actress Helen George is back from her maternity leave, and we’ll see Trixie return to Poplar at Christmas. (And stuck around for Season 8.)

What would you like to see on the next season of Call the Midwife? Are you looking forward to it? Let’s discuss in the comments!