New Call the Midwife pictures reveal huge fan favorite returns for Christmas special

Trixie Franklin (HELEN GEORGE) and Jonty Aylward (ARCHIE O'CALLAGHAN) in Call the Midwife standing in front of a Christmas tree
Trixie and Jonty are looking forward to Christmas 1968. (Image credit: BBC / Neal Street Productions / Laurence Cendrowicz)

New pictures for the Call the Midwife Christmas special 2023 have been released - and they show a favorite character will be making a return for the festivities. 

The festive special, which will air on Christmas Day on BBC One in the UK and PBS in the US will see Christmas 1968 getting underway in Nonnatus House. But while newlyweds Matthew (Olly Rix) and Trixie (Helen George) are looking forward to their first Christmas together as Mr and Mrs, they are soon sprung with an unexpected visitor - Trixie's brother Geoffrey (Christopher Harper)! 

Geoffery was a firm favorite with viewers when he arrived in Call the Midwife season 12 for Trixie and Matthew's wedding and helped his sister get ready for the biggest day of her life. 

Fans couldn't get enough of Geoffery's wit and charm, and now he's back for Christmas to see Trixie and also make himself useful as the residents of Nonnatus House plan a very special yuletide for Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) after she becomes convinced this could be her final Christmas. 

The Call the Midwife cast sitting round a dinner table for the 2023 Christmas special

Geoffery has returned to Nonnatus House!  (Image credit: BBC / Neal Street Productions)

It has also been confirmed by the BBC that Nancy (Megan Cusack) has recommitted to staying at Nonnatus House after Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) offers her and her daughter Colette (Francesca Fullilove) a room for the foreseeable future, meaning we will be seeing plenty more of Nancy in Call the Midwife season 13 next year.

It has also been revealed that the Christmas special will see Cyril (Zephryn Taitte) gently intervene when he discovers a lost soul living alone in a dilapidated basement flat, while Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett), away on her refresher course, makes it home in time for Christmas festivities despite treacherously heavy snowfall.

While we are still waiting for the official Christmas TV schedules to be confirmed for 2023, Call the Midwife Christmas specials traditionally air on Christmas Day at around 8 pm on BBC One. 

In the US the Call the Midwife Christmas special also traditionally airs on Christmas Day on PBS around 9 pm ET. 

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.