‘Call the Midwife’ is introducing a new regular lead midwife next season

A new addition to the cast of Call the Midwife has been revealed.

Joining Nonnatus House next year will be Black Mirror actress Leonie Elliott as Nurse Lucille Anderson, the first West Indian midwife to feature as a regular character in the popular BBC series.

Lucille is described as “elegant, funny and clever” and will bring “a fresh new energy to life at Nonnatus House,” where “through her eyes we explore the experiences of Caribbean nurses who came over in the 1960s to support the growing NHS.”

Returning cast members in Season 7 include Jenny Agutter (Sister Julienne), Linda Bassett (Nurse Crane), Judy Parfitt (Sister Monica Joan), Helen George (Trixie), Laura Main (Shelagh Turner), Charlotte Ritchie (Barbara), Victoria Yeates (Sister Winifred), Jennifer Kirby (Valerie), Stephen McGann (Dr Turner), Jack Ashton (Tom), Cliff Parisi (Fred), Annabelle Apsion (Violet), Max Macmillan (Timothy) and Jack Hawkins (Christopher).

Executive producer Pippa Harris says: “We can’t wait to introduce the audience to our new midwife Lucille, played by the hugely talented and captivating Leonie Elliott. From her first audition Leonie managed to embody the essence of this elegant, intelligent, witty character whom Heidi Thomas has created with her customary skill.

“Lucille is a fantastic addition to the Nonnatus House team and we know she will be warmly welcomed by the nuns and midwives.”

Eight new episodes and a Christmas special are currently filming.

Call the Midwife writer Heidi Thomas has revealed that upcoming story lines will see “our beloved Nonnatus House team stretched to the limit, as they face a series of medical, social and emotional challenges.”

Buy the Season 6 box set on Amazon here.

This year’s Holiday episode will air in the US in December and PBS has confirmed that Season 7 will air in spring 2018, shortly after its UK debut.