'Call the Midwife' News, Spoilers: A Season of Changes, the Christmas Special in South Africa, and the Two Who Found Love
"Call the Midwife" season 5 rolled out with the more daring 1960s, seeing a bit of social change as well as developments in housing conditions, sanitation, as well as healthcare practices in the poor section of London's East End, Poplar. But that is not all that is changing on the show. BBC's period drama series will be leaving behind Nonnatus House and going to South Africa for the 2016 Christmas Special which is already being filmed.
The nurse midwives and nuns are going to the Eastern Cape to answer a call for help from a mission hospital, Hope Clinic. The poorly staffed facility has very little funding and an even poorer water supply. It would soon be shut down unless something is done to augment its situation. In a trip that will change everyone's life, Nonnatus House goes to the rescue and shall face new challenges that will leave the team shaken.
And guess who the winds of change will be blowing back towards East Cape and East End? BBC confirms that clumsy but lovable midwife Chummy Noakes will be joining the rest of "Call the Midwife" cast and crew briefly in South Africa, and then later on back in Poplar for the next season.
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Actress Miranda Hart, who plays Noakes, went on Twitter to share the exciting news. Hart has been away from the series since the end of season four in order to honor other work commitments, which included the movie "Spy."
Heidi Thomas, the show's creator as well as writer, also tweeted, "Thrilled to confirm the top-notch news that Chummy is returning to #callthemidwife!"
Speaking of changing lives and exciting news, "Call the Midwife" stars Helen George (playing Trixie Franklin) and Jack Ashton (playing Reverend Tom Hereward) are looking very much in love---for real! While the two had been linked romantically on the show, this time around, it is looking much like a budding true-to-life love story with South Africa as its backdrop.
Sources have told Mirror that the couple has been on dates and shared lodgings at a resort whose manager shared, "They were here together and seemed very close. They spent quite a lot of time by the pool just chilling, doing nothing and being together."
George had been previously married to Oliver Boot, but the pair had separated a while back.
Onscreen, the Ashton and George's romance broke off last season.
In the meantime, season five in London's East End is approaching its episode four, airing in April 24. A challenge will present itself to Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) when in the course of her work as a nun and midwife, she encounters a limbless child, shaking her faith at its roots. The upcoming episode will also feature the story of a young man who gets his fiancée with child and must then choose between abandoning her by continuing his studies or seeking a job that would support his new family. Trixie will also give viewers a peek into how she feels about Tom and Barbara's relationship.
Guesting during this episode are Gerrard McArthur as Mr. Kenley; Ian Burfield as Maurice; Hayley Carmichael as Sadie Bulmer; Becci Gemmel as Ruby Cottingham; Chloe Harris as Linda Lanyard; Teresa Banham as Sister Knowles; and Dinita Gohil as Jamila Shahjee.
Episode five, airing May 1, will see a new clinic of Dr. Turner's open. The facility will deal with patients having respiratory problems. This episode will witness Violet suffering a back injury, which places Fred in her place running the shop. It will also deal with a new mother whose past causes an uproar in her family's life. Guest stars for the episode include Rupert Holliday Evans as Mr. Philips; Andrew Havill as Denis Dawley; Celeste Dodwell as Roseanne Dawley; AnnabelleApsion as Violet Buckle; and Sarah Quintrell as Mrs. Phillips.
"Call the Midwife" airs every Sunday at 8 p.m. on BBC One (PBS in the United States).
