Pam Ferris and show bosses made a surprise appearance in Call the Midwife’s series finale
Pam Ferris and show bosses made a surprise appearance in Call the Midwife’s series finale
Abbie Bray Deputy Editor for Screen Time and Nicola Methven
11:26, 09 Mar 2026Updated 11:27, 09 Mar 2026
Call the Midwife star teases return of character in series finale
The creative minds behind Call the Midwife have revealed their excitement about making unexpected cameos in Sunday evening’s series finale, which also saw the return of beloved actress Pam Ferris.
Writer and showrunner Heidi Thomas appeared as a ghostly nun alongside Pam, who reprised her role as the deceased Sister Evangelina after a decade-long hiatus, to shepherd her friend, Sister Monica Joan, into the next world. Executive producer Dame Pippa Harris similarly featured in the episode, playing a funeral attendee at St Oswald’s church during the memorial service.
Pam, aged 77, last appeared in the BBC drama in 2016, when her cherished character died suddenly in the fifth series’ final instalment. This evening, in deeply moving sequences, she reappeared to provide solace during her former colleague’s final hours.
Fans of the beloved BBC1 show have known for several weeks that Sister Monica Joan’s tenure at Nonnatus House was nearing its end, after she was diagnosed with kidney failure and Doctor Turner delivered the devastating news that his ageing patient had little time left.
In this evening’s series 15 finale, the 99-year-old nun, played by Judy Parfitt (90), was given a magnificent send-off before the show pauses transmission to enable production of a wartime prequel series and a film located in Australia. On screen, as Sister Monica Joan was led from the room and separated from her physical form resting on the bed, additional nuns processed behind, reports the Mirror.
Amongst them was Heidi, who has been writing the series since it launched in 2012. She told The Mirror that it felt appropriate to take part in the scene, given the show’s break of at least 2 years.
“Throughout our 15 years on air, I have always said I would appear in the final episode, dressed as a nun – and so I did, even though I was basically a ghost and see-through,” Heidi shared with the Mirror. “I thought I looked quite good in a wimple, but when my husband (Stephen McGann, who plays Dr Turner) saw me, he went white, and said I was the double of the nun who taught him sex education when he was at school.”
Pippa, who initially developed the concept of transforming Jennifer Worth’s memoir into a television drama, confessed she’d also harboured ambitions of featuring in an episode. “Over the years I’ve always thought that one day I’d like to actually appear in Call the Midwife, just fleetingly, in the background, but the timing was never right,” she said.
“Then, when I realised that this crucial sequence was about to be shot, and I’d get the chance to put on full mourning attire, it was too good an opportunity to miss.”
At 77, Ferris chose to leave the series when production moved to a new facility in Surrey, significantly lengthening her commute. Reflecting on her exit shortly after, she said: “Making the decision to leave Call the Midwife was a wrench, but because I then became involved with telling the story to the best of my ability, there was no time to feel regret. I’ll miss my friends on set – in front of and behind the camera – and I’ll miss my habit, which is so well-worn and comfortable. But I shan’t miss my wimple.”
Viewers were also moved to tears by the cameos, with one posting on social media, “Thank you for bringing back Pam Ferris as Sister Evangelina! Sister MJ’s last scenes wouldn’t have felt right without her.”
Another wrote, “I am an absolute mess after that episode. However, so beautifully done. Sister Evangeline returning for Sister Monica Joan was such a beautiful ending for an iconic character who has been at the heart of the show for so many years. And also the photographs at the end featuring some of the old cast who we have loved along the way was just such an exquisite ending.”
While a third added, “Well, that was just fab! I was doing really well at holding back the leaky eyes, and then you unleashed Pam Ferris – pass the tissues!”
Significant developments lie ahead for the nuns, who, barred from continuing midwifery work in Poplar, are now arranging overseas missions. Additional major shifts in last night’s episode saw nurse Trixie Aylward secure a controlling interest in the Lady Emily private maternity home, whilst Cyril and Rosalind wed before their baby’s arrival despite lacking her parents’ approval, and nurse Joyce Highland obtained a sister’s position at St Cuthbert’s hospital.
A three-part prequel to Call the Midwife, showcasing younger portrayals of Pam’s Sister Evangelina, Judy’s Sister Monica Joan and Jenny Agutter’s Sister Julienne, is anticipated to premiere on Christmas Day. Cast announcements are yet to be made.
Production on the feature film, incorporating the entire current ensemble and set across Poplar and Australia, is scheduled to commence next year, taking place in 1972. Heidi has confirmed series 16, expected to centre on a new community hospital, will return to BBC One in due course.
Call the Midwife is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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