Here’s how the ‘Call the Midwife’ team are filming safely during the pandemic

Filming is now underway on new episodes of Call the Midwife, but with a few changes this year.

The BBC’s hit period drama series about a group of nurse midwives working in the East End of London returned earlier this year with its ninth season.

With Call the Midwife already renewed for another two seasons, this year’s Christmas special was due to begin production this spring in Surrey, England.

The planned shoot was suddenly halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, which also caused filming to be suspended on other British shows like Peaky Blinders.

Fortunately, last month we learned that the Call the Midwife team had returned to work on 2020’s feature-length festive episode!

The show’s cast and crew have had to implement a number of new controls and precautionary measures to keep everyone safe from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Call the Midwife production team have said they’re “committed to helping get the country back to work and have developed comprehensive protocols in accordance with current government guidelines to ensure that the series is produced in a safe and responsible manner.”

They added that they’ve “worked closely with industry bodies and the BBC to develop the detailed Covid-19 protocol policy, implementing various safety measures and testing and will keep it under constant review.”

There’s a designated Covid-19 supervisor on set too, looking after the production’s safety precautions and efforts.

Call the Midwife writer Heidi Thomas commented: “We are very much a family at Call the Midwife, and like families everywhere, we have missed each other.

“We will now be putting more love and energy into our work than ever and can’t wait to share Series 10 with our fantastic, loyal audience.”

Executive producer Dame Pippa Harris added: “Alongside the rest of the country, we have all been devastated to see how Covid-19 has affected people around the world.

“Our midwives and nurses may not be the front-line heroes of today’s NHS, but by getting back to work, they, and we, hope to bring some joy and respite into people’s lives.

“In such difficult times, the values of Call the Midwife seem more resonant than ever. In series ten we will continue to celebrate the skill and bravery of the UK’s NHS whilst bringing laughter and love into our homes.”

Laura Main, who plays Shelagh Turner, said: “Back in a trailer again, after a hair and make up test and before heading to a costume fitting. It was so great to see Shelagh starting to form and looking back at me again, even from behind a mask!

“It’s a little bit different with lots of protocols now, but Call the Midwife series 10 has started filming and I’ve my first proper day back today! Thanks to our amazing producer Annie Tricklebank and everyone involved in setting it all up.

“Let’s do this and let’s hope that more and more productions get green lit and we can all be back doing what we love, and sharing that with others.”

With production almost complete on the 90-minute Christmas episode, the cast will soon begin work on the show’s tenth season.

Set to air in 2021, Season 10 will only have seven one-hour episodes rather than the usual eight episodes, due to the later than usual start to filming.

This year’s festive special will air in December on BBC One in the UK and on PBS Masterpiece in the US.

In the meantime, you can play this fun official Call the Midwife board game!

Season 9 is available on DVD on Amazon.