Call the Midwife finally returns to BBC One on this Christmas for two specials of the adored period drama, with all the shows characters set to return.
The last season of the show, which was set in 1969, saw the nuns and nurses of Nonnatuse House welcome two pupil midwives called Joyce Highland and Rosalind Clifford, who will be returning for the festive double bill.
The Christmas specials are expected to see medical challenges, including influenza and the Hong Kong flu, not to mention an escaped prisoner.
As the neighbourhood prepares for a carol concert, “fears grow that he may be in the local area after a spate of break-ins”.
Renee Bailey, from London, plays midwife Joyce Highland who is a Trinidadian pupil midwife described as “hardworking, fiercely bright and deeply kind”, but is also concealing a traumatic past of her own.
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Midwives Joyce Highland and Rosalind Clifford joined Nonnatus House together (Image: BBC/Neal Street Productions)
Earlier this year, during season 13, Joyce’s closet full of skeletons also came spilling out when estranged husband Sylvester (Benjamin Cawley) came knocking on Nonnatus’ door in the guise of being her cousin.
It soon transpired that Sylvester was her abusive ex-husband who was set on taking all of her hard-earned money before she got rid of him for good.
Joyce also revealed she had changed her name and became a nurse to get away from Sylvester, but he tracked her down/ She was applauded for her bravery by her fellow midwives and also passed her exams with flying colours.
Joyce Highland joined the ladies at Nonnatus House last season (Image: BBC / Neal Street Productions / Andrea Southam)
Speaking to the about her character, Renee said: “Joyce is a force. She is driven and knows what she wants. She’s come to England from Trinidad and was training in Birmingham before London.
“I’ve tried to bring in a little more softness as well as qualities that I love in Black women generally. I don’t want her to just be this stereotypical idea of what a strong black woman looks like. She has a lot of tenderness.”
Renee’s previous credits include playing the role of Paris in the Three series Mood. The six-part series premiered on in March 2022 and follows the world of influencers.
Renee Bailey will return as Nurse Highland in Call the Midwife (Image: Getty)
She also played the part of Laila for eight episodes in the series Rebel Cheer Squad in 2022.
In 2014, Renee starred in the Channel 4 mini series How to Be a Person which is based on true stories of being a teenager.
Call the Midwife airs on Christmas Day at 8pm, with a second episode on Boxing Day at 7:30pm on One and iPlayer