Call The Midwife creator reveals location for Christmas special

\'Call The Midwife\' will stay in Poplar for this year\'s Christmas special.

The hugely popular medical period drama has previously travelled to the likes of South Africa and the Outer Hebrides for its festive episodes, but creator Heidi Thomas wants to stay close to home in 2020.

She told RadioTimes.com: "We are staying in Poplar.

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"We are not going anywhere cold, we are not going anywhere wet, we\'re not going anywhere far away. It\'s very much Poplar-based, I\'m writing it at the moment.

"And there will be snow and there will be tinsel and there will be trees and there will be Christmas dinner at Nonnatus House. And beyond that it\'s a secret!"

The characters haven\'t stayed in Poplar for the whole Christmas special since 2017, which was set in the very cold and snowy winter of 1962.

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The following year, several nuns and midwives had to head to the Mother House in West Sussex, while last year\'s seasonal episode saw them packing their bags for the remote Outer Hebrides.

Although Heidi is writing the script at the moment, she is keeping tight lipped about what she has in store for the characters this time round - although there will naturally be more babies.

She added: "I think the baby count when I left my desk this morning was running at two. But we\'ll see how I get on, because I haven\'t finished writing it yet!"

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The BBC show\'s current ninth series concludes on Sunday (23.02.20), but Heidi previously insisted there are no plans to end the programme just yet.

She said: "\'Call the Midwife\' has come a long way from the twin sets, pearls and dirndl skirts of series one. And the changes have not been confined to the wardrobe.

"All across Poplar, people\'s lives have been transfigured by slum clearance, antibiotics, vaccinations, contraception, and gas and air in childbirth. Indeed, things are looking up so much that our fans have started fretting, asking \'How much longer can the show go on?\'

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"They have no need to worry. Sister Julienne and her devoted team have more work to do than ever, because change is never instant, or complete, nor is it always welcome. Progress can give with one hand, and take away with the other."