‘Call the Midwife’ Christmas 2018 special preview: New pics, synopsis, clip and air date

New details have been released by the BBC for this year’s festive Call the Midwife episode.

Ahead of the eighth season of the period drama series next month, the midwives are back this Christmas with a feature-length special.

The episode will air in the UK at 7.45pm on Tuesday 25th December on BBC One.

It’ll be shown in the USA at 9/8 ET on Tuesday 25th December on PBS.

And Australian fans can watch it on Wednesday 26th December on BBC First.

Watch a clip from the Christmas special:

Set in 1964, the new season will introduce two new sisters; Sister Hilda, played by Fenella Woolgar (War & Peace), and Sister Frances, played by Ella Bruccoleri (The Last Kingdom).

They’ll be joined by Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes as Sister Mildred, “a forthright and indefatigable sister from the Order.”

Here’s a first look at these new characters:

The official synopsis for the festive instalment reads: “As Poplar prepares for Christmas, the nuns travel to the Mother House to elect a new mother superior.

“Sister Julienne is the obvious replacement, and must face this possibility as her future at Nonnatus House hangs in the balance. As they ready to leave, Sister Mildred (played by Miriam Margolyes), an indefatigable sister from their order, arrives unexpectedly with her hands full with four Chinese orphans on route to the Children’s Home at the Mother House.

“Touched by the plight of the children at the Home, the Nonnatus family and two new nuns, Sister Hilda (played by Fenella Woolgar) and Sister Frances (played by Ella Bruccoleri) come together to give them a Christmas Nativity that they will remember.

“Back in Poplar, Trixie returns from Portofino refreshed and with her troubles well and truly behind her, and Valerie leads the baby ballet Christmas performance.”

Jenny Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne, recently gave an update on the possibility of a Call the Midwife movie.

The seventh season of Call the Midwife is available now on DVD on Amazon.