SISTERS IN ARMS: CALL THE MIDWIFE SPIN-OFF WRAPS FILMING, FIRST LOOK AT CAST IN COSTUME

The BBC has revealed new pictures of the cast for Neal Street’s Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms, to mark filming wrapping on the three-part special coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas.

Julie Hesmondhalgh, Helena Wilson, Ellie McKay, Liv Andrusier and Lizzie Back are all seen for the first time on set in newly released pictures.

In September 1939, Sister Monica Joan is in her prime, Sister Julienne and Sister Evangelina are young and zealous, and Nonnatus House is the beating heart of Poplar. Together with Sister Alice, and local GP Dr Kit, the nuns dedicate their lives to mothers, babies and those in need. But there is no gas and air, no penicillin, no cure for TB, and no welfare state. Then war is declared - and life gets even harder.

The three young secular midwives who complete the team - Sybil, Olive and Marianne - receive a baptism of fire as the blackout and the Blitz take hold. While bombs rain from the sky, women give birth underground, families are shattered, children run wild, and whole streets are reduced to rubble. But courage, compassion and resilience triumph as the community unites in its efforts to survive.

Heidi Thomas OBE, writer and showrunner, says: “Call the Midwife has a long and noble history of filming Christmas specials during heatwaves, and this year we welcomed the snow-machine back to the Nonnatus House set like an old friend. But I was surprised how many new emotions Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms sparked. In particular, the evacuation of Poplar's children, and the fear that they may not make it home for Christmas had us all in tears."

Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms is made by All3Media’s Neal Street for the BBC. The series is created, written and executive produced by Heidi Thomas, executive produced by Pippa Harris for Neal Street, and Ann Tricklebank who also serves as producer. Tricklebank has directed episodes one and two, whilst John Maidens has directed episode three.

Previous series of Call the Midwife are available now on BBC iPlayer.