Call The Midwife

In the spring of 1957 newly qualified midwife Jenny Lee arrives in the East End of London to begin her career. After overcoming the initial shock that her new home, Nonnatus House, is a convent rather than a private hospital she quickly becomes immersed in her new life. Living with Nuns and working in a community of colorful characters, such as Conchita Warren and her 25 pregnancies, is different from anything Jenny has encountered previously. Through her we experience the sorrows and joys which come with being a midwife.

As Jenny Lee settles into her role, there is a new arrival at Nonnatus House, Chummy (Miranda Hart). A welcome pair of extra hands Chummy sets about showing her worth, but an overwhelming keenness to please and her inability to ride a bike prove obstacles in gaining the respect of Sister Evangelina. Meanwhile a chance encounter with Mary, a young pregnant runaway, forces Jenny to see an unfamiliar darker side of life.

Jenny is placed on the district nursing roster for a few weeks, to extend her experience of community practice. During her rounds she attends to Joe, a gentle old soldier, and a friendship forms. At the antenatal clinic Trixie and Cynthia enrol Winnie Lawson as new patient. In her forties Winnie had thought her days of diapers and babies were long gone, and seems upset by her pregnancy. By contrast her husband Ted is overjoyed by the news. However at the baby's birth everyone gets a bit of a surprise.

A baby girl, recently delivered by Jenny, is snatched from her carriage, causing great anguish to her family and uniting the local community as they search for the missing child. Meanwhile Cynthia witnesses another type of loss as she assists in the case of soon-to-be parents David and Margaret. Newly married and excited about their future, everything is put in jeopardy when Margaret develops eclampsia.

Jenny finds herself for once not involved in the beginning of life, but at it's end. When Frank, the brother of Peggy the cleaner at Nonnatus House, is diagnosed with cancer Jenny and the nuns are called upon to provide him with care. In doing so Jenny comes to know the siblings better, learning of their upbringing in a workhouse and the profound effect it has had on their relationship. As Jenny tends to Frank, the other residents of Nonnatus House find themselves involved in helping Fred with his latest money making venture - a pig called "Evie". Fred's plan had been to make his fortune from bacon, this is spoiled when it's realized the pig is pregnant . The nuns and nurses help out Fred and Evie in the manner they know best.

Sister Monica Joan is found wandering near the docks, and returned to Nonnatus House by the police. Her adventure takes its toll on her health and she succumbs to pneumonia. When she eventually recovers she sails forth back into the community only to find herself in trouble with the law when she is accused of theft. As Sister Monica Joan's case progresses to trial the Nonnatus House community fear that the old nun could find herself going to jail. Chummy has further worries when her mother decides to make a trip to inspect her new "beau".

Christmas is coming, and in Poplar the midwives of Nonnatus House are busier than ever. When an abandoned baby is discovered on the steps of the convent, the whole community rallies round to provide food and clothing, and to try and trace his mother. Meanwhile, Jenny Lee (Jessica Raine) finds herself drawn into the mystery surrounding elderly local woman Mrs. Jenkins (Sheila Reid), while Chummy (Miranda Hart) is determined to stage an unforgettable nativity play.

It's 1958 and returning from a long day of duties, Nurse Jenny Lee finds the Nonnatus House community gathered to wish her a happy birthday, before she, Chummy, Trixie and Cynthia head off to the movies. However the midwife's good cheer is short lived when the next day she is assigned a new patient, Molly Brignall, who is trapped in an abusive marriage. Meanwhile, Trixie and Sister Evangelina find themselves in highly unusual circumstances, aboard a Swedish cargo ship looking after the captain's daughter who is about to have her first baby.

The Nonnatus community is rocked when the Kelly family's newborn son dies tragically in unexplained circumstances. Cynthia, who had attended the birth, comes under intense scrutiny from the police, and the pregnant women of Poplar. Now fully ensconced in married life with PC Noakes, Chummy's decision to pursue her dream brings about a different sort of pressure as exciting changes lie ahead for the couple. Meanwhile, a chance encounter returns Jimmy to Jenny's life with surprising results.

Jenny is seconded to a short staffed London Hospital to work on the male surgical ward and finds herself working under an intimidating surgeon, Mr Tracey.  Back in Poplar the midwives have a new addition to the household, Jane, who lends a hand in Jenny's absence. In one of their most unusual cases, the nuns and midwives are introduced to a forthright pair of twins Meg and Mave Carter. The two women are identical in every way, they even share a husband; except one of them is now pregnant.

Returning from her stint at The London Hospital, Jenny needs all her skill as a midwife when she and Sister Evangelina assist at the birth of the Roberts' baby, who is born with spina bifida. The parents, Doug and Ruby, struggle to understand and accept their son's life limiting condition. Nonnatus House meanwhile plays host to an acquaintance of Chummy's -- the Reverend Applebee Thornton, an eccentric cleric who befriends Jane.

The whole Poplar community pull together to prepare for the annual Summer Fete. This year with the introduction of a Baby Show the Nonnatus House midwives will be more involved than ever; especially Trixie who assumes responsibility for securing a celebrity judge.  For others though, life is a little less festive. At the ante-natal clinic Jenny meets Nora Harding an impoverished mother of eight, who is distraught that she may soon have another mouth to feed.

Crowded living conditions have always meant that Tuberculosis has been rife in Poplar.  However, with the advent of the mass-Xray program to diagnose the disease early, Dr Turner is determined that the community will no longer live under the threat of TB.  While the nuns and nurses support the doctor in his campaign to bring proper screening facilities to the area, Jenny's district nursing rounds lead her to a family who have suffered devastating misfortune from the disease.

Cynthia's district nursing rounds find her administering daily insulin injections to diabetic John Lacey, a deplorable bully who consistently belittles his wife Annie.  A visit from Annie's beloved son Bob, and moral support from Cynthia, see Annie gaining confidence and start to turn her life around.  Jenny's work leads her to witness persecution of a different variety, when she looks after a black mother to be, Monique, who is subjected to racial prejudice from her neighbors. Funded by the success of the Summer Fete, Nonnatus House takes ownership of a scooter to help with their rounds.

Chummy and PC Noakes meet with new challenges as they settle back down to life in Poplar. Fred is in high spirits when his pregnant daughter, Dolly, and her young son Anthony arrive to stay with him. Jenny's own jubilation comes in the form of potential love interest Alec, a friend and colleague of Jimmy's. However, in the outside world of Poplar, the winds of change are blowing with old buildings being demolished to make new way for new apartments, a situation which reaches crisis point when the convent comes under threat.

Following the closure of the former Nonnatus House, the nuns and midwives finally move into their new premises. The building is not the only new sight as Sister Winifred arrives from the Mother House. She is a warm-hearted, slightly innocent young woman. Jenny is concerned about new mother, Merle's, mental state and the welfare of her new-born who isn't feeding properly. Dr Turner is concerned that it could be something more serious. Sister Monica Joan's increasingly eccentric behaviour has been causing concern, but she is the one who finally solves this perplexing medical mystery. Trying to adjust to her new role of housewife and mother, Chummy decides to spearhead an Open Day at the Community Centre even attempting to secure attendance from a Royal guest! When the clinic opens, Shelagh sits pride of place as the receptionist. After helping to deliver a neighbour's baby, Chummy is left with an overwhelming sense of fulfilment and decides that midwifery is more than just a profession but a way of life she wishes to return to.

Trixie's feathers are ruffled when Jenny is promoted to 'Acting Sister' by Sister Julienne, but their relationship is restored after Jenny faces a very difficult situation with one of her patients. Doris is carrying a baby that does not belong to her husband. She knows he will find out, because the father is black, and has to accept that the only solution is for her baby to be adopted.
Cynthia is inspired when a lecture given by Dr Latham on the art of natural childbirth seems a perfect solution for one of her patients, Nellie, who is extremely anxious about giving birth. He agrees to attend one of her sessions at the clinic and, using everything she has learnt, Cynthia helps Nellie to experience a wonderfully peaceful and calm birth.
Alec and his friends try to persuade Jenny to go on a CND march with them but she declines for the sake of her patients, understanding that it's ok for them to have different interests.

Sister Julienne receives a phone call from Holloway Prison where the Salvation Army, who normally provide midwifery for female inmates, have been struck down with influenza. She is called to care for the women and asks Trixie to help her. One of their patients, heavily pregnant Stella, confesses she's worried social services will think she's an unfit mother and take her baby. Although Stella is not honest at the start, Sister Julienne puts her reputation on the line to help mother and child from being separated. Shelagh suffers heartbreak when a routine pregnancy check turns out to be something far more serious. She has some scar tissue, as a result of the TB, which has affected her reproductive organs and means it is unlikely she will ever be able to carry children. It's Chummy's birthday and Fred manages to get hold of tickets for the gang to see 'My Fair Lady' but they are turned away at the box office because their tickets are forged. It's Sister Evangelina who manages to recoup the money! Alec tells Jenny he loves her but she can't say it back and just wants things to stay the same.

Jenny is concerned that a Jewish patient, Leah, is struggling to cope with her mother's sickness and agoraphobia, on top of her own pregnancy. Although her husband is offered a new job and home, Leah knows she can't leave her mother behind after all they went through to survive the Holocaust. But, with the arrival of new life, it's as if Mrs Rubin is reborn too and with a great deal of effort and help from Sister Winifred, she manages to step outside for the first time in 12 years. Alec surprises Jenny by asking her to accompany him to Brighton for the weekend. Although she accepts at first, a chat with the girls makes Jenny think his intentions might not be so innocent after all and changes her mind. Later on, unbeknownst to Jenny, there's a horrific accident on the building site which Alec has been overseeing and he is taken to hospital with severe injuries. As Jenny attends to Leah's labour, a phone call comes through informing her that Alec has taken a turn for the worse. Jenny leaves immediately for the hospital. Shelagh is bravely trying to cope with the news of her infertility and Sister Julienne suggests she joins the local choir. It's a disaster since the choir master retired so Shelagh decides to take it over, and help bring it back to life.

Sister Julienne and Cynthia are busy packaging up donated clothing for charity. One parcel is destined to go to St Gideon's, an institution which cares for those with disabilities and learning difficulties. Jacob, who has cerebral palsy, oversees delivery of the clothing and steps in to help Sally, who has Down's syndrome, select a beautiful cardigan to wear to the Institution's annual dance. She is delighted. After the dance, Sally's mother finds her feeling unwell and takes her to Nonnatus House to be examined. The midwives discover that she is six months pregnant which results in some difficult confessions and decisions.
Dr Turner suggests that Shelagh takes over the running of Nonnatus House so that an exhausted Sister Julienne can recuperate. This includes overseeing the arrangements for Sister Evangelina's surprise Jubilee celebrations. But, the atmosphere turns sour when a lemon meringue pie goes missing. Sister Monica Joan is the prime culprit but it's Sister Evangelina who seems secretly troubled. PC Noakes spots her concealing a parcel of food, which she reveals is for a mysterious figure from her past.
Nonnatus House also sees the arrival of new nurse, Patsy. Her no nonsense, hard-working attitude and sense of humour means she's an immediate hit with the nuns and midwives.

As the midwives set off for their rounds, they get waylaid by Tom, the local curate, and Fred, who are trying to spruce up an old bus outside Nonnatus House. Tom is clearly keen on Trixie and asks if she would like to join him for a day of cricket. She happily accepts and goes back to work with a spring in her step. But, their date is disastrous and she is left feeling disappointed.
The combination of Timothy getting back to his old self, and discovering her own infertility, has made Shelagh think long and hard about what she wants next in life. She decides to talk to Dr Turner about adopting a baby.
Patsy appears to be struggling to adapt to the unpredictable and chaotic working life that midwifery brings. She upsets a young mother in the clinic which sees her being taken off midwifery and put on to the district rota. In the course of her work, she forms a bond with a docker, Maurice, and has to work tirelessly to find a diagnosis for his unusual symptoms which in turn reveals more about her own background.

Cynthia is concerned during a visit as she feels new mother Pamela is overly anxious. Dr Turner arranges for a psychiatrist to visit but on their return, Pamela and the baby are missing. They are found on the edge of a pier, dangerously close to the water with the baby in grave danger. It is Sister Julienne who has to talk her down and get Pamela sent for treatment.
Jenny returns from the Mother House much restored, and is seconded to The London. At first she is impressed with the facilities and efficiency but after a while begins to see cracks in the establishment, especially when her patient, Faye, experiences complications and she is stopped from looking after her.
Chummy visits London to meet her mother for tea but is upset to discover that Lady Browne has left Madeira permanently and walked out on her father, rendering herself penniless. Despite being eager to help her mother, their relationship becomes fractious until the real reason for Lady Browne's damning behaviour comes to light.
Dr Turner and Shelagh continue with the adoption process but one of his references from a man he served with during the war leads to the uncovering of a devastating secret.
Trixie struggles to hide her disappointment when Tom cancels a date but they later manage to enjoy their first dance together.

As preparations are made for Chummy to nurse her dying mother at home, Jenny finds herself drawn to help. Whilst Shelagh and Dr Turner await news from the Adoption Society, Shelagh pulls out all the stops when she enters her choir into a competition.