Get a Look Behind the Scenes at 'Call the Midwife' Season 8

Though we’re still a few months from the return of popular period drama Call the Midwife, filming on its upcoming season has been underway since May.

The drama was renewed through Season 9 back when it was only airing Season 6, so we haven’t – and won’t – need to worry about its fate for some time. (It honestly feels like a show that could go for as long as they can keep updating the cast every few years.)

Fenella Woolgar, Ella Bruccoleri and Georgie Glen will join the regular cast for Season 8, as Sister Hilda, Sister Frances and new receptionist Miss Higgins, while Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes will appear in the 2018 Christmas special and the first episode of the new full season.

Plenty of other big things are in store for the Nonnatus House, the community of Poplar and the U.K. at large, including the birth of another royal heir (who, if I have my timing right should be Prince Andrew).

At the start of series eight, it’s spring time in 1964 and everyone is excited for the Queen’s Royal birth. Violet is holding a Teddy Bears’ Picnic and raising funds through a competition on whether the Queen will have a boy or a girl. With the additions of the two new Sisters, who have been sent to live and work with the team in Poplar, Nonnatus House feels full once more. The midwives are introduced to their new midwifery bags, much to the distress of an already under the weather Sister Monica Joan who disturbingly absconds from Nonnatus House. Meanwhile, Nurse Crane is braced for a twin delivery but is confident the team can handle this smoothly.

The official Call the Midwife social media accounts have been sharing behind-the-scenes snaps from Season 8 filming all summer long, often throwing in a few tidbits about the characters and the series itself along the way.