Call the Midwife has confirmed one fan favourite will return to Poplar on Christmas Day
Angie Quinn Screen Time Reporter
14:14, 03 Dec 2025
Call the Midwife confirms the return of a much-loved character(Image: BBC / Neal Street Productions / Olly Courtney)
Call the Midwife is set to air the return of a much-loved character this Christmas.
The BBC drama will return with two new festive episodes, airing on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which include an explosive plot abroad as the nuns and nurses embark on a rescue mission.
Set in 1971, the episode is expected to kick off with Fred (Cliff Parisi) and Violet Buckle (Annabelle Apsion) leaving Poplar, East London, and travelling to Hong Kong to spend Christmas with her son, Derek (Nicholas Atkinson).
However, tragedy strikes when they learn that the Hong Kong Branch House has collapsed, and there are multiple fatalities. A rescue mission is hastily organised, and a team from Nonnatus House make emergency plans to head out to Hong Kong to do what they can to help.
Dr Turner and the midwives visit Hong Kong during the new Call the Midwife Christmas specials (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC / Neal Street Productions / Charmaine Man)
Dr Turner (Stephen McGann) and Shelagh (Laura Main) join the rescue team in an attempt to track down Esther Tang (Yennis Cheung), their adopted daughter May’s (April Rae Hoang) biological mother, whom they have not heard from in over a year.
During season 14 of the BBC drama, Dr Turner made no secret that he was missing his eldest son, Timothy Turner (Max Macmillan).
Timothy, who was first seen during the 2012 festive episode, was last seen during the 2023 Christmas special, when he paid a visit home for the holiday celebrations. During the latest series, Dr Turner clarified that Timothy is away working as a junior doctor in Edinburgh.
Timothy had been discussed with fondness, following in his father’s footsteps in medicine, but his absence in the latest episodes has left fans questioning whether he has departed from Call the Midwife permanently.
Timothy Turner during the new Call the Midwife Christmas special (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC / Neal Street Productions / Olly Courtney)
However, Call the Midwife has now confirmed Timothy is returning to Poplar for this year’s Christmas special.
Taking to Instagram, the BBC show shared a behind-the-scenes photo of Timothy alongside his on-screen mum, Shelagh, played by Laura Main.
The show wrote in the caption: “Behind the Scenes on the Call the Midwife Christmas Special: Tim’s back!
“Hello all! This Christmas the Turners welcome their eldest back from his doctor training – and won’t you look at that seventies long hair!
“It has been absolutely WONDERFUL to have Max Macmillan back on set….and we are delighted to tell you that Max will be playing his full part in this year’s festivities…”.
Max Macmillan is pictured behind the scenes during filming for new episodes of Call the Midwife (Image: callthemidwife.official/Instagram)
Fans wasted no time sharing their excitement at Timothy’s comeback, with one person writing: “Welcome back, Timothy. Can’t wait to see everyone in the Christmas special.”
A second exclaimed: “I cannie wait”, while a third chimed in: “We’ve literally watched him grow up on camera.”
“I can’t wait! So happy Tim’s back!! And @lauramain1 stunning as ever!”, added another, while one fan simply stated: “Cannot wait”.
Call the Midwife returns to BBC One and iPlayer on Christmas Day