WHAT HAVE WE GOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THIS YEAR'S SPECIAL?
Helen George: The Christmas episode is like a big box of chocolates, with shiny lovely wrappers. And each story is carefully told.
Jenny Agutter: This particular Christmas is one of the few times that Sister Julienne hasn't been totally focused on how to keep Nonnatus House together due to the financial situation. Now there's the wonderful Matthew there who is supporting and is offering help all the time.
Poplartunity Knocks was a really brilliant idea of Fred's and does bring the community together and we get to see what talents they all have, which is wonderful and surprising. And it reminds me very much of my childhood, where Opportunity Knocks did actually exist and we were always riveted by it. So that's a lovely element of the Christmas story.
We see people coming back, very particularly in the Christmas episode, we have the Mullucks coming back. We see the effect (thalidomide) continued to have on people, the difficulties of having a child who doesn't quite fit in.
In this episode you really get the sense of Nonnatus House, the midwives and the nuns being at the centre of the community, which is a strong community.
HELEN, TRIXIE HAS A VERY ROMANTIC MOMENT THIS CHRISTMAS… WHAT WAS IT LIKE FILMING THAT?
HG: Trixie has a really lovely time at Christmas, it is very romantic.
It was really lovely, we were filming by the Albert Bridge in Battersea. the councillor said: 'Oh, yes, we'll leave the lights on all night for you, you can film all night'.
It was a night shoot, and at like, five to 10, after we've done one take, the lights went out.
They were on hold to the council for the rest of the night trying to get the lights, but they never came on. So the DOP lit it beautifully and managed to work around it.
I'VE HEARD RUMOURS THAT WE MIGHT BE HEARING WEDDING BELLS…
HG: Is there a wedding? I don't know. There might be a do, somewhere along the line…
JENNY, THIS IS A REALLY DISTINCTIVELY CHRISTMASSY EPISODE, FULL OF REFERENCES TO THE NATIVITY STORY.
JA: I don't think we've ever done a Christmas show that has been so Christmas, from beginning to end.
Every single story that's in there, in some way, someone's touched by it. With the birth of their son at a certain time with three kings being there, even trying to get into the shed (to give birth)… There's so many little references to Christmas from beginning to end.
And it's unusual, I think, because often we sense we're there, and coming into the new year, but not celebrating it the way it has. It's (writer, Heidi Thomas's) extraordinary gift to write the dramatic piece that actually makes you also focus on real things that are happening. And that did happen.
CALL THE MIDWIFE IS SUCH A PIVOTAL PART OF CHRISTMAS DAY FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?
HG: It is lovely that we've become part of the Christmas Day menu. People always say they sit down on Christmas Day and watch it after the Queen – I guess it will be the King this year.
It is so flattering and feels unreal that we've been doing these so long.
It is funny to think back to the first series when we didn't do a Christmas special and how far we've come, how established we are.
Call The Midwife returns to BBC One this Christmas Day.
