For the first time in its history, Call the Midwife fans have a two-part Christmas special to look forward to ahead of new episodes in the New Year.

Rather than the traditional 90-minute instalment, the BBC has confirmed that there will be two 60-minute episodes, which will also include a Christmas cliffhanger.

"Who doesn't love finding an extra, unexpected present underneath the Christmas tree?" said creator and writer Heidi Thomas OBE.

"When I was asked to write a two-part Christmas special for 2024, I couldn't resist!"

Executive producer Dame Pippa Harris added: "For the first time, viewers can luxuriate in a two-part festive treat this Christmas. Heidi has created a spellbinding special which I know will delight our loyal fans."

Director of BBC Drama Lindsay Salt hailed Call the Midwife as "one of UK television's most popular festive traditions".

She continued: "And this year we wanted to go even better, with Call the Midwife's biggest Christmas ever!

"Heidi and the team have lined up an absolute treat, with two irresistible episodes packed full of everything fans will love about this very special series at Christmas time."

All of the "well-loved characters" will be back for the two-parter, which picks up in Christmas 1969.

The midwives are "all busy delivering babies and doing the job they are most dedicated and committed to", while Poplar also welcomes a funfair, which adds "a burst of colour and excitement to the frosty landscape".

But there will be challenges, including influenza and the Hong Kong flu, not to mention an escaped prisoner.

As the neighbourhood prepares for a carol concert, "fears grow that he may be in the local area after a spate of break-ins".

Elsewhere, "the Turner children are caught up in the fever surrounding the Blue Peter Christmas appeal to collect dinky cars and scrap metal, Trixie makes a fleeting visit to Nonnatus House and is delighted to see her brother Geoffrey, and Miss Higgins has her grandson Harry stay for Christmas".

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Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press about the upcoming Christmas episode, Jenny Agutter (who plays Sister Julienne) said: "For me, when I read it, I was very touched by it. It’s quite Dickensian.

"It is quite dark, but in with that is a lot of humour and a lot of humanity, and that's what lightens it.

"It's just the recognition that we’re in difficult times, we've been in difficult times, we always were in difficult times. It just recognises that."

Similarly, Shelagh Turner star Laura Main said: "I think it also feels really apt as a Christmas story to not just be full of joy and cheer, because life doesn't stop for Christmas.

"Life can be difficult, and so that's reflected in the story. To take a moment to think of others, and see people serving others, is a nice message at Christmas."

Teasing a little more about some of the stories set to unfold, Agutter went on: "Well, the homeless family is absolutely soul-destroying, just watching that happen, people evicted from their places. And we know that's happening today.

"As you say, life goes on and Christmas doesn't make it easier. It is for some, but not for everybody."

"When I did interviews after the storyline last year, I sort of said it was like a little spotlight had shone on her past, and then it would go out again and life would carry on as normal," [Georgie] Glen told RadioTimes.com and other press.

"And I realised as soon as I came back, of course it can't carry on as normal, that I'm actually the same person, but in a very different position now because a few people are privy to it, Dr Turner and Nurse Crane, and I'm never going to be the same again because a fundamental change has happened in her life."

Glen went on to say that for Miss Higgins, it's now about navigating "a new reality within that new discovery because... she's lived a long life just with the grief and the memory of what happened".

"And although her son has now died, she has at least been reunited with him and she has gained his son, and her life is enriched by that," added Glen.

"It's changed her life completely."

[There is] trouble ahead for Reggie Jackson (Daniel Laurie) as he continues to explore his newfound independence.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press, Cliff Parisi (Fred Buckle) said: "Normally Reggie's been really sheltered by Vi and Fred, but they've kind of started to try and grant him a little bit more independence as he's gotten older.

"So when we do a job together, he gets a separate pay packet with his own name on it. He's now becoming a young man, and they're trying to respect that and trying to make him more responsible."

But of course, that comes with risks.

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