Pam Ferris Makes Ghostly Return in Call the Midwife Finale
In an exclusive revelation, actress Pam Ferris has made a dramatic return to the beloved BBC drama Call the Midwife for its series fifteen finale. Ferris, last seen as Sister Evangelina in 2016, reappeared as a ghostly figure to guide her old friend Sister Monica Joan into the afterlife during an emotionally charged episode that aired tonight.
Secret Cameos from Show Executives
The finale featured not only Ferris's return but also two special secret cameos from the show's key creative forces. Showrunner Heidi Thomas appeared as a ghostly nun behind Ferris, while executive producer Dame Pippa Harris played a mourner in St Oswald's church during the funeral sequence.
Heidi Thomas, who has written the series since its 2012 launch, told the Mirror: "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." She added that her husband, Stephen McGann (who plays Dr Turner), was startled by her appearance, remarking she resembled the nun who taught him sex education in school.
Dame Pippa Harris, who first conceived the idea of adapting Jennifer Worth's memoirs for television, explained her cameo: "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. Then when I realised 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."
Emotional Farewell to Sister Monica Joan
The episode centered on the passing of Sister Monica Joan, played by 90-year-old Judy Parfitt. The 99-year-old nun character had been diagnosed with kidney failure earlier in the series, with Doctor Turner warning she had "not long" left. Her magnificent send-off marks a temporary break for the drama as production shifts to new projects.
Ferris, now 77, originally left the series after production moved to a new set in Surrey, which increased her travel distance. Speaking after her initial departure, 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."
Major Changes for Poplar's Characters
The finale introduced significant developments for several characters:
- The nuns of Nonnatus House, no longer permitted to perform midwifery duties in Poplar, are planning new missions abroad
- Nurse Trixie Aylward takes a controlling stake in the private maternity facility the Lady Emily
- Cyril and Rosalind marry ahead of their baby's arrival despite lacking parental blessing
- Nurse Joyce Highland secures a position as a sister at St Cuthbert's hospital
Future Projects for the Franchise
The series now enters a hiatus to accommodate several exciting new projects. A three-part prequel featuring younger versions of Sister Evangelina (Pam Ferris's character), Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt), and Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) is scheduled to launch on Christmas Day, though casting remains unannounced.
Additionally, filming for a movie featuring the current cast and set in both Poplar and Australia is expected to commence next year, with the story taking place in 1972. Heidi Thomas has confirmed that series sixteen, likely centered around a new community hospital, will return to BBC1 in due course.
The emotional finale brought closure to Sister Monica Joan's storyline while setting the stage for the franchise's future expansion, blending heartfelt farewells with promising new beginnings for the beloved characters of Poplar.
