Call the Midwife is treating fans to an extra special festive treat this year, as the show's annual Christmas Special returns to screens.

Since its start in 2012, the Poplar-based show has had a Christmas special that often pulls the heartstrings of its viewers with a touching storyline.

Call the Midwife was originally based on the books by Jennifer Worth and her time as a midwife in the East End of London during the 1950s but has since become a massive hit for the BBC and has even been renewed to run until at least 2026.

Ahead of the Call the Midwife Christmas Special, we have all the information on how you can watch the feature-length special, the full cast list and what you can expect.

Call the Midwife Christmas Special full cast list

Many popular characters will be back for the festive episode with the likes of Helen George returning as Nurse Trixie, Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne and Stephen McGann as Dr Partick Turner.

The full BBC confirmed cast list is as follows:

  • Helen George: Nurse Trixie Aylward
  • Olly Rix: Matthew Aylward
  • Stephen McGann: Dr Patrick Turner
  • Laura Main: Shelagh Turner
  • Linda Bassett: Nurse Phyllis Crane
  • Jenny Agutter: Sister Julienne
  • Judy Parfitt: Sister Monica Joan
  • Megan Cusack: Nancy Corrigan
  • Rebecca Gethings: Sister Veronica
  • Georgie Glen: Miss Higgins
  • Zephryn Taitte: Cyril Robinson
  • Cliff Parisi: Fred Buckle
  • Annabelle Apsion: Violet Buckle
  • Daniel Laurie: Reggie Jackson
  • Alice Brown: Angela Turner
  • April Rae Hoang: May
  • Max Macmillan: Timothy Turner
  • Francesca Fullilove: Colette Corrigan
  • Archie O'Callaghan: Jonty Aylward
  • Christopher Harper: Geoffrey Franklin
  • Dame Vanessa Redgrave: The Voice of Jennifer Worth

How to watch Call the Midwife Christmas Special

Fans of Call the Midwife can watch the Christmas Special at 8.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day, December 25.

According to the BBC, the special will be longer than a normal episode, with a run time of 1 hour 28 minutes.

Viewers can also watch all 12 series of Call the Midwife now on BBC iPlayer.

What to expect in the Call the Midwife Christmas Special

The festive special is set to take place two weeks before Christmas Day as the midwife prepares to watch Apollo 8 land on the moon.

As much of the world awaits the moon landing, Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) has shared with Nonnatus house that she believes it will be her last Yuletide after deciding she will not live to see a man walk on the moon.

Trixie (Helen George) and her brother Geoffrey (Christopher Harper) decided they must come up with a plan to lighten Sister Monica's mind.

Elsewhere, Nancy (Megan Cusack) has decided to stay at Nonnatus House as Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) offers her and Colette (Francesca Fullilove) a room.

Newlyweds Trixie and Matthew (Olly Rix) are back from their honeymoon and excited for their first Christmas together as husband and wife.

Adding some drama to the Call the Midwife Christmas special, Cyril (Zephryn Taitte) hopes to help a lonely man living in a dilapidated basement flat who finds Christmas the hardest time of the year.