Call the Midwife: Something worth singing about!

Emily Bright finds out about the Salvation Army band featured in this year’s Call the Midwife Christmas special.

In a festive gift for viewers, Call the Midwife – complete with its nuns, nurses and heartwarming storylines – has returned for a two-part Christmas special.

As the 1960s come to an end, life is as busy as ever in Poplar. Friends and residents of Nonnatus House – home to midwives and nuns – are buzzing with expectation about an upcoming mince pie competition. Handyman Fred (Cliff Parisi) dresses up as Father Christmas for the children’s ward at St Cuthbert’s Hospital, much to the delight of its patients. And a visiting funfair brings joy to adults and children alike.

However, there’s little Christmas cheer for one household. The Shaughnessy family, who cannot pay off their creditors, are made homeless right before Christmas. Forced to take temporary refuge in a rat-infested home with rapidly depleting candles, they are at breaking point. It’s up to the midwives to save the day.

‘Life can be difficult, and so that’s reflected in the story,’ says Laura Main, who plays midwife Shelagh Turner. ‘And so to take a moment to think of others, and see people serving others, is a nice message at Christmas.’

At the beating heart of every episode of Call the Midwife is the care and warmth found in Nonnatus House, with its tales of love, loss and new life. Home to community healthcare, the building provides a backdrop when – during the seasonal specials – locals come together for a carol concert, accompanied by a real-life Salvation Army brass band.

Their music seems an apt soundtrack, given that the church and charity’s love for God and compassion for others are shared by Call the Midwife’s characters.

‘The band was wonderful,’ Jenny Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne, tells the War Cry. ‘I wanted them to keep playing!’

Such bands have been a festive staple over the years. Bandsman Dean Jones, who played the euphonium for the episode, explains that ‘the sight of people gathering together wearing the Salvation Army uniform is synonymous with this time of year, holding our instruments and playing these carols’.

Performing Christmas music for Call the Midwife carried an added significance for Dean.

‘It was a fantastic opportunity to stand up and profess our faith,’ he says. ‘The words connected with those tunes and being able to engage with people in that Christmas spirit are really important for us as Christian musicians.

‘The Christmas story is the bedrock of my faith. It inspires me to realise the humbleness that Jesus was born into. As Christians, we try to have grace and walk in humility, which is definitely what Jesus did in the very meek way that he came to this Earth. The Christmas story is a real linchpin, within my faith, for sure.’

Jesus, who came to serve other people rather than to be served, continues to inspire millions of Christians throughout the world. Born into poverty without fanfare, the Son of God would go on to take the punishment and die for the wrong things we do so that we can be reconciled to God if we choose to believe.

Jesus’ offer of love and forgiveness is available to us all. That’s certainly something worth singing about.

• Watch the episode on BBC iPlayer.