Judy Parfitt has opened up about the BBC drama being put on hold after 15 years
Angie Quinn Screen Time Reporter
15:32, 06 Jan 2026
Call the Midwife legend Judy Parfitt has reflected on her time starring on the BBC One drama as it’s set to take a break.
The 90-year-old actress has played Sister Monica Joan in the popular show since it launched on television in January 2012. Her character is a wise but eccentric woman who dotes on eating cake and lending a kind ear to those in need.
Sister Monica Joan has dedicated her entire life to religious service, midwifery, and helping the poorest and most in need people of Poplar, East London.
Sadly, the sister hasn’t had an easy life as her family never came to terms with her choices, and being a nun was completely scandalised by her relatives.
Call the Midwife star Judy Parfitt has opened up about the show taking a break (Image: BBC / Nealstreat Productions / Ray Burmiston)
Thankfully, Sister Monica Joan followed her faith and found a family in the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House.
The new Call the Midwife season starts on Sunday (January 11) and has moved into 1971. The new era explores the impact of the Women’s Liberation movement, premature births, cancer diagnosis, and many other topics.
Continuing the show’s journey into the 1970s, Call the Midwife has confirmed its 16th series. However, a prequel will also be made, set in Poplar during World War II, which focuses on the earlier days of Nonnatus House.
Sister Monica Joan and Sister Juliene have bene staples on Call the Midwife since the show launched
A spin-off movie set in 1972 overseas will also be broadcast as the regular series of Call the Midwife will be put on hold to make way for the prequel and film.
Judy has recounted her time on the show as Sister Monica Joan over the past 15 years and explained that not filming episodes in the Spring will affect her.
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She told the Radio Times: “From about the beginning of March, you start thinking how lovely it’ll be to see everyone and start working again. Then it’s April, and I usually look forward to April.
“So for it not to be there really shakes me a bit. This company has been through so much together that we are a family. It’ll be hard for all of us.”
Judy Parfitt has played Sister Monica Joan in Call the Midwife since 2012(Image: WireImage)
The actress also shared her admiration for her character, Sister Monica Joan. She added, “I’ve always wanted to play a nun because I was educated by nuns, and I loved Monica Joan’s character.
“The way she was written as quirky and offbeat was a joy; I don’t know what I’ll do without her, actually.”
During the Call the Midwife Christmas special, which aired on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, some of the action moved away from Nonnatus House as disaster struck at the order’s branch house in Hong Kong.
Sister Monica Joan stayed behind in London to help with the remaining team keep services ticking over, and the character is expected to return for new episodes this month.
You can read Judy Parfitt’s full interview with the Radio Times here.
Call the Midwife series 15 starts on Sunday, 11 January at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer