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Call the Midwife Christmas Special will have two parts.
This special never feels like a filler episode. It usually does real story work and closes one chapter and quietly sets up the next season.
The 2025 edition signals early that things won’t follow the usual pattern. The story splits the cast across two locations, and that choice changes everything. Senior members of Nonnatus House head to Hong Kong on a mercy mission. Meanwhile, the younger midwives remain in Poplar with far more freedom than they’re used to.
That gap in experience shapes the tone, with one side feeling heavy and tense. The other leans lighter, almost restless.
Call the Midwife Christmas Special 2025 release date and time
The 2025 Christmas Special arrives as a two-part event. Part one airs on Thursday, December 25 at 8:15 p.m. GMT. And Part 2 follows the next day, Friday, December 26, at 8:30 p.m. GMT. Both episodes premiere on BBC One in the U.K.
Splitting the story allows ample time so emotions don’t rush past. If you only watch one part, you’ll miss key context. This year especially, both episodes matter.
How to watch for free in the U.K.
Viewers in the U.K. can watch the Call the Midwife Christmas Special live on BBC One. Both episodes also stream live and on demand on BBC iPlayer, and are the easiest way to catch up later.
You only need a valid TV licence to access the episodes. There’s no extra cost or add-on involved.
How to watch the special episode in the U.S.
The U.S. release follows a different format from the UK. PBS airs the Christmas Special as one extended two-hour episode and the episode premieres on Thursday, December 25 at 8 p.m. ET and PT.
It streams for free on the PBS website and PBS app, plus, the episode remains available for nearly a month until January 24, 2026.
How to watch Call the Midwife Christmas Special 2025 in Canada
Canadian viewers can stream both parts on BritBox and the episodes premiere on Friday, December 26. BritBox requires a paid monthly/ yearly subscription after a short free trial.
BritBox already has most of the Call the Midwife library.
How to watch in Australia
Australian audiences can also find the Call the Midwife Christmas Special on BritBox and both episodes arrive on Saturday, December 27.
Subscription pricing matches other BritBox regions and a free trial may be available for new users. The release delay is shorter than in earlier seasons. Still, spoilers tend to spread fast, so caution helps.
What the 2025 Christmas Special is about
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The Hong Kong storyline raises the stakes right away as Fred and Violet arrive to find the Kowloon Branch House collapsed. The disaster leaves multiple people injured and others dead. Dr Turner and Shelagh search for Esther Tang, the biological mother of May. Their efforts face pressure from gang violence and a tuberculosis outbreak.
But again, back in Poplar, the tone shifts as Cyril receives an offer that looks generous but feels off. It’s the kind of subplot the show often uses to hint at bigger trouble ahead. The split setting lets the episode balance warmth with danger.
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