The much-loved BBC drama, Call the Midwife, has bid farewell to its devoted audience with a poignant and tear-jerking finale that has left viewers emotionally drained. The conclusion of series 15 marked the end of an era, with the show now taking an extended break to allow creator Heidi Thomas to focus on an upcoming movie adaptation and a prequel series. However, before its hiatus, the show delivered an unforgettable episode, centred around the heartbreaking passing of Sister Monica Joan.
While moments of joy punctuated the finale, including the wedding of Cyril and Rosalind and Joyce Highland securing a new role, the overriding sentiment was one of profound sadness. This stemmed from the decline in health of Sister Monica Joan, portrayed by the venerable 90-year-old Judy Parfitt, who has been an integral character since the show’s inception in 2012. Her diagnosis with chronic kidney disease earlier in the series had foreshadowed this emotional farewell.
The scene of Sister Monica Joan’s passing was particularly touching, as she was surrounded by loved ones. In a moment that surprised and moved many viewers, the spirit of her dear friend, Sister Evangelina, made a spectral appearance by her bedside. Pam Ferris, who previously played Sister Evangelina from series one to five before her character’s own death in series five, reprised her role in this touching vision.
The exchange between the two nuns was deeply resonant:
- Sister Monica Joan, upon seeing her friend, remarked, “I might have known you would put in an appearance, Sister Evangelina.”
- Sister Evangelina responded with a gentle firmness, “Some of us know when a job needs finishing. You meanwhile have shilly-shallied long enough. Even the Almighty’s patience has worn thin.”
- Sister Monica Joan, with a touch of vulnerability, inquired, “What’s it like? Where I will go?”
- Sister Evangelina, with a comforting smile, replied, “It’s everything we were promised…and all that you have worked for.”
The emotional weight of the moment was palpable as Sister Evangelina extended her hand, saying, “Come on you.” With a serene smile, Sister Monica Joan’s spirit then departed her earthly form, joining hands with her cherished friend. Together, they turned and left the room, accompanied by the spectral presence of other departed nuns, a powerful visual metaphor for their final journey.
Her death sent ripples of grief through Nonnatus House and the wider Poplar community. The impending changes to the convent’s operations added to the sense of loss. In a somber meeting involving the nuns, midwives, and Doctor Turner, Sister Julienne articulated the shared feelings of sorrow and transition:
“We are all facing loss, and we are all facing change. The death of our sister, and the alteration of our practice are not linked, but the sadness feels the same because it is time itself that has brought both these things about.”
Sister Julienne then revealed the nuns’ decision to transform Nonnatus House into a “place of prayer, and charity whilst we discern our next steps,” signalling a significant shift in their mission and presence.
The grand finale concluded with a reflective mood, as the characters reminisced over photographs chronicling their years together. In a final, poignant touch, Doctor Turner’s children hung a handmade sign on the convent door, bearing the simple yet impactful message: “Temporarily Closed.”
The emotional impact of Sister Monica Joan’s departure was widely felt by viewers, who took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express their profound sadness. Many shared that they were left in tears by the finale:
- “The call the midwife finale.. I cried.”
- “Call the Midwife had the most perfect ending.”
- “Congrats to call the midwife for making me cry once again, very rarely do I cry multiple times in one episode of a tv show.”
- “Goodness – call the midwife has finished me off tonight.”
- “Such a perfect ending to Call The Midwife I can’t remember the last time I have cried like that to a TV show.”
- “Call the midwife has got me breaking my heart.”
This emotional conclusion followed a period of viewer frustration due to a scheduling change that saw an episode cancelled the previous month. The Daily Mail reported that the broadcast of a new episode was postponed to accommodate the BAFTA Film Awards 2026. A statement on the Call the Midwife Instagram account confirmed the shift, informing fans that the show would return in two weeks, creating a fortnight-long gap between episodes.
The announcement read:
“ANNOUNCEMENT! As in previous years, we’ll be taking a short break next Sunday whilst the BAFTA Film Awards are shown live on BBC1. But we will be back with you in TWO WEEKS TIME for episode 7!! Call the Midwife Series 15 continues Sunday 1st March at 8pm on BBC1.”
Fans expressed their disappointment in the comments section, with one writing, “I don’t think I can cope with the wait.” Others lamented the interruption, with comments like, “Ahh that’s not fair,” and “Nooooooo don’t want the BAFTAS I want CTM on instead!” Another viewer expressed, “I thought we’d escape the BAFTAs interruption this year!” with a suggestion to air the awards on a different channel.
