Call the Midwife Christmas special filming chaos as cast hit by typhoon in Hong Kong
There was drama behind the cameras as well as in front of them!
Call the Midwife faced real-life drama while filming this year’s Christmas specials in Hong Kong after a level 10 typhoon hit the city.
This year’s double festive offering sees some of our Nonnatus House favourites head abroad after they learn that the Mother House in Hong Kong has collapsed and there are countless casualties, including orphaned children, expectant mothers and fellow nuns.
Fred and Violet Buckle are already in the city visiting Violet’s son, Derek, when the tragedy hits. But, soon, Doctor Turner, Shelagh, Nurse Crane, Sister Julienne and Sister Veronica all arrive on a mission to help.
A typhoon causes chaos
However, Call the Midwife creator Heidi Thomas has revealed that they had their own drama going on behind the scenes. A level 10 typhoon meant the cast and crew were told to stay in their hotel. They also kept the curtains closed in case something blew against the window.
Heidi said: “What was interesting was we weren’t filming that weekend when it happened. On the Friday were were warned there would be a typhoon coming. Strength six at this point. Nobody batted an eyelid as that’s relatively common in Hong Kong.
“But then producer Annie Tricklebank and I were on set and getting phone alerts saying it was up to eight. By the time it got to Friday night, we were told it would be a ten. We had to stay in the hotel with the curtains drawn.”
Annabelle Apsion, who plays Violet Buckle in Call the Midwife, added: “Our hotel was fantastic. It looked over the sea and you could see things going on down in the streets. It was kind of exciting, dare I say. We just stayed indoors and had a lovely dim sum lunch!”
When are the Call the Midwife Christmas episodes on?
The BBC hasn’t announced the Christmas TV schedules yet, but in 2024, Call the Midwife aired on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The two episodes will split their time between the drama unfolding in Hong Kong and Poplar, where some of the younger midwives stay behind.
In Hong Kong, the team face trying to help the injured with minimal medical supplies. They also find an abandoned baby, fight an outbreak of tuberculosis and get in trouble with a gang of triads.
Back in snowy Poplar, things are equally dramatic.
While one baby is born in a freezing caravan, Trixie and Geoffrey find an elderly man lying in the snow. They walk him home, only to learn he has a terminal illness and has come back to Poplar to die. As his condition worsens, Sister Monica Joan goes to visit, remembering him from when she delivered his sibling many years ago.
There will also be plenty of lighthearted moments, especially when we see Timothy, Geoffrey and Miss Higgins’ grandson Harry as we have never seen them before!
Read More: BBC Christmas 2025 TV Preview
