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Arts & Culture

CALL THE MIDWIFE: Season 6

Barbara (CHARLOTTE RITCHIE), Nurse Trixie Franklin (HELEN GEORGE), Nurse Patsy Mount (EMERALD FENNELL).
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
Barbara (CHARLOTTE RITCHIE), Nurse Trixie Franklin (HELEN GEORGE), Nurse Patsy Mount (EMERALD FENNELL).

Airs Sundays, April 2 - May 21, 2017 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV

The critically acclaimed British drama CALL THE MIDWIFE returns to PBS for a sixth season April 2-May 21, 2017. #MidwifePBS

Season 6 begins in 1962 and it is evident how times are changing, from increased liberation for women to the shadow of infamous gangsters to the introduction of new government policies.

In Poplar, when the rather austere Sister Ursula is appointed the new head of Nonnatus House, Sister Julienne finds herself demoted and working alongside the midwives as an ordinary member of the staff. She is not the only one to face challenges closer to home.

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As they strive to help mothers and families cope with the demands of childbearing, disability, disease and social prejudice, the beloved medics must make choices — and fight battles — of their own.

In Season 6, the midwives laugh together, cry together and support each other as never before, while continuing to address complex medical and personal dilemmas on their midwifery and district nursing rounds.

CALL THE MIDWIFE contains mature content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. Rated TV-14.

Season 6 Official Trailer

"Nonnatus house faces the changes of 1962. As they strive to help mothers and families cope with the demands of childbearing

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“CALL THE MIDWIFE continues to entertain viewers in both the UK and the US with exciting storylines and engrossing characters,” said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming, PBS. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with our BBC and Neal Street partners as we embark on a sixth season together.”

“We are delighted to be bringing series 6 of CALL THE MIDWIFE to our many loyal fans in America,” said Dame Pippa Harris, executive producer for Neal Street Productions. “Once again, Heidi Thomas’s scripts shine with passion and compassion and see our medics tirelessly supporting their patients in the turbulent, exciting years of the early 1960s.”

Laura Main as Shelagh Turner, Harriet Walker as Sister Ursula.
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
Laura Main as Shelagh Turner, Harriet Walker as Sister Ursula.

THE CAST:

CALL THE MIDWIFE stars Jenny Agutter (“The Railway Children,” SPOOKS) as Sister Julienne, Linda Bassett (“East Is East,” LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD) as Nurse Phyllis Crane, Judy Parfitt (LITTLE DORRIT, "Girl With a Pearl Earring"), who was nominated for a 2013 Satellite Award for her work as Sister Monica Joan, Helen George (HOLLYOAKS, DOCTORS) as Trixie Franklin, Bryony Hannah ("Cemetery Junction") as Sister Mary Cynthia, Laura Main (MONARCH OF THE GLEN) as Shelagh Turner, Emerald Fennell ("The Danish Girl," "Pan") as Patsy Mount, Charlotte Ritchie (LIFE OF RILEY, FRESH MEAT) as Nurse Barbara Gilbert, Victoria Yeates (HOLBY CITY) as Sister Winifred, Ben Caplan (THE LOST HONOUR OF CHRISTOPHER JEFFERIES, BAND OF BROTHERS) as Sergeant Peter Noakes, Stephen McGann (EMMERDALE) as Dr. Patrick Turner, Cliff Parisi (EASTENDERS) as Fred, Jack Ashton (ENDEAVOUR, “Of Mary”) as Tom Hereward, Annabelle Apsion (SHAMELESS) as Violet Buckle, Kate Lamb as Nurse Delia Busby and Jennifer Kirby (HOLBY CITY) as Nurse Valerie Dyer.

Jennifer Kirby as Valerie Dwyer, Charlotte Ritchie as Nurse Barbara Gilbert.
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
Jennifer Kirby as Valerie Dwyer, Charlotte Ritchie as Nurse Barbara Gilbert.

WATCH ON YOUR SCHEDULE:

Full episodes of CALL THE MIDWIFE: Season 6 will be available to stream the morning after broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and PBS apps for iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast.

Season 6 will be available on DVD and Blu-ray in 2017. Seasons 1-4 are now available on DVD and Blu-ray on shopPBS.org. Additional items, including Jennifer Worth’s memoirs, published by Penguin Books, and "The Life and Times of Call the Midwife," published by Harper Collins, are also available.

EPISODE GUIDE:

Episode 1 airs Sunday April 2 at 8 p.m. - The team reunites, but all is not well when a change of management shocks Nonnatus House to the core. Sister Mary Cynthia’s health takes an unexpected turn as mental illness threatens to derail her.

James Farrar as Lester Watts, Pearl Appleby as Trudy Watts.
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
James Farrar as Lester Watts, Pearl Appleby as Trudy Watts.

Episode 2 airs Sunday, April 9 at 8 p.m. - The Nonnatus team prepares for the birth of a baby they know may not survive. Shelagh shows her mettle when she is first on the scene after an explosion in the docks. Sister Ursula continues to ruffle feathers with her unpopular decisions.

Emerald Fennell as Patsy Mount, Rachel Denning as Penny Reed.
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
Emerald Fennell as Patsy Mount, Rachel Denning as Penny Reed.

Episode 3 airs Sunday, April 16 at 8 p.m. - A Chinese first-time mother faces an unexpected crisis, while new legislation and Sister Ursula cause serious problems for Shelagh and Dr. Turner.

Stephen McGann as Dr Patrick Turner, Lucy Sheen as Oilen Chen, Laura Main as Shelagh Turner, Alice Connor as Lucy Chen.
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
Stephen McGann as Dr Patrick Turner, Lucy Sheen as Oilen Chen, Laura Main as Shelagh Turner, Alice Connor as Lucy Chen.

Episode 4 airs Sunday, April 23 at 8 p.m. - An expectant mother buckles under the strains of pregnancy. As Tom provides pastoral care, he reveals why this case has touched him more than most.

Jack Ashton as Tom Hereward, Claire Lams as Marnie Wallace.
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
Jack Ashton as Tom Hereward, Claire Lams as Marnie Wallace.

Episode 5 airs Sunday, April 30 at 8 p.m. - Nonnatus House welcomes a new recruit, Nurse Valerie Dyer. A vulnerable young man captures the hearts of Fred and Violet, while the whereabouts of Sister Mary Cynthia causes distress among the team.

Daniel Laurie as Reggie, Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle and Annabelle Apsion as Violet Gee.
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
Daniel Laurie as Reggie, Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle and Annabelle Apsion as Violet Gee.

Episode 6 airs Sunday, May 7 at 8 p.m. - Valerie Dyer oversees the care of an expectant Somali woman and is shocked when she uncovers a troubling aspect of this unfamiliar culture. The Nonnatus family unites to provide the very best care for Sister Mary Cynthia.

Jennifer Kirby as Valerie Dwyer, Yusra Warsama as Nadifa.
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
Jennifer Kirby as Valerie Dwyer, Yusra Warsama as Nadifa.

Episode 7 airs Sunday, May 14 at 8 p.m. - Dr. Turner helps the Mullucks cope with the stresses of caring for a disabled child as the terrible legacy of thalidomide becomes apparent. Nurse Crane faces an unexpected crisis.

Liz White as Rhoda Mullucks.
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
Liz White as Rhoda Mullucks.

Episode 8 airs Sunday, May 21 at 8 p.m. - An unexpected turn of events leads to a hastily arranged wedding. Shelagh finally goes into labor. The arrival of the birth control pill leads to unforeseen consequences.

Victoria Yeates as Sister Winifred, Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan, Helen George as Trixie Franklin.
Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2016
Victoria Yeates as Sister Winifred, Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan, Helen George as Trixie Franklin.

CALL THE MIDWIFE is on Facebook, and you can follow @CallTheMidwife1 on Twitter. #MidwifePBS #callthemidwife

CREDITS:

Created and written by Heidi Thomas; Executive Producers are Pippa Harris and Heidi Thomas. Producer is Ann Tricklebank (UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, LARKRISE TO CANDLEFORD). The series is a Neal Street Production for BBC/PBS and is distributed by BBC Worldwide North America.