You’re looking for Nonnatus House. We’ve all been there. It’s a rainy Tuesday, or maybe you just need to see Trixie Franklin’s latest outfit to feel alive again, and suddenly you realize the streaming rights have shifted. It’s annoying. One day the show is right there on your favorite app, and the next, it’s vanished into a licensing black hole. If you’re trying to figure out where to watch Call the Midwife, you have to navigate a messy web of BBC iPlayer, PBS Masterpiece, and various rental platforms that want your five dollars for a single episode.
The show has been running since 2012. Think about that. That is over a decade of babies, bicycles, and nuns dealing with the harsh realities of the East End. Because it’s a co-production between the BBC and Neal Street Productions—with PBS heavily involved for the American market—the "where" depends entirely on which side of the Atlantic you're sitting on.
Honestly, it shouldn't be this hard.
The Best Ways to Catch Up on Call the Midwife Right Now
If you are in the United Kingdom, you have it easy. Seriously. You just go to BBC iPlayer. Every single episode, from the very first time Jenny Lee stepped off that bus to the most recent Christmas special, is usually sitting there for free—provided you've paid your TV license. The BBC treats this show like a national treasure because, well, it is. The ratings for the 2024 and 2025 seasons proved that even after all these years, millions of people still want to cry over a breech birth and a cup of tea.
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But what about the Americans?
The US situation is a bit more fragmented. For a long time, Netflix was the go-to home for the midwives. It was simple. You paid your monthly fee and binged until your eyes hurt. However, as contracts expire, the show has leaned more heavily into its "home" at PBS.
The PBS Masterpiece Factor
If you want the newest episodes as they air, you need the PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel or the PBS Passport app. Passport is actually a pretty great deal. You donate a small amount to your local public television station—usually about $5 a month—and you get access to the entire back catalog. It feels better than giving money to a giant tech conglomerate, doesn't it? You’re basically funding the very show you’re watching.
The Netflix Situation
Netflix usually keeps the "older" seasons. They often trail behind the current broadcast by about a year. If you aren't caught up on the 2024 season, Netflix is likely your best bet for a seamless binge experience without ads. But don't expect the brand-new 2025 episodes to pop up there the day after they air in the UK. That’s just not how their deal works.
Why Is This Show So Hard to Find Sometimes?
Licensing is a nightmare.
Basically, a show like Call the Midwife isn't owned by just one company. Neal Street Productions makes it. The BBC broadcasts it in Britain. PBS distributes it in America. When you add in international distributors like BritBox or Acorn TV (which sometimes snag rights in specific territories like Australia or Canada), it becomes a giant puzzle.
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Sometimes a streaming service will lose the rights for a month while a new contract is signed. You’ll search for where to watch Call the Midwife, see it listed on a site, click it, and get a "content unavailable" error. It’s enough to make you want to join a convent yourself just for the peace and quiet.
Rental and Digital Purchase Options
If you hate subscriptions, you can always go old school.
- Vudu (Fandango at Home): They usually have individual seasons for purchase.
- Apple TV / iTunes: Reliable, high-quality, but expensive if you're buying all 13+ seasons.
- Google Play: Same as Apple.
Buying a season usually costs around $20 to $30. If you’re a superfan who re-watches the show every time you have a cold, buying it might actually be cheaper than paying for a streaming service for three years. Plus, you don't have to worry about the show "leaving" the platform. Once you buy it, it’s yours.
What About the Christmas Specials?
This is a major sticking point. In the UK, the Christmas special is the highlight of the year. It airs on Christmas Day. In the US, PBS usually airs it on the same day. However, some streaming platforms categorize the Christmas specials as "Season X, Episode 0," while others list them as separate movies.
If you are binging on a platform and notice a weird time jump where suddenly a character is married or a nurse is gone, you probably missed a Christmas special. Check the episode list carefully. Always look for those 90-minute outliers. They contain the biggest plot developments.
Watching Call the Midwife Internationally
Outside of the US and UK, it’s a bit of a wildcard.
In Canada, the show often lives on CBC Gem. It’s a fantastic service, and they are usually pretty quick with the new seasons. Australia fans often find it on ABC iview or Binge.
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If you're traveling, you might notice your home streaming app suddenly says the show isn't available in your region. That’s geoblocking. It’s a legal requirement based on those pesky licensing deals we talked about. Some people use VPNs to get around this, but that can be against the terms of service for many apps, so proceed with caution.
The "Hidden" Costs of Binging
Let’s be real. If you want the full experience, you’re looking at:
- A PBS Passport subscription (for the new stuff).
- A Netflix sub (for the middle seasons).
- Maybe a digital purchase for a missing Christmas special.
It adds up. But for a show that handles topics like the introduction of the contraceptive pill, the thalidomide scandal, and the legalization of abortion with such grace, many feel it's worth the price of admission.
Actionable Steps to Start Watching Today
Stop scrolling and just do this:
- Check PBS Passport first. If you are in the US, this is the most "stable" home for the show. It’s cheap, supports public media, and has the most consistent library.
- Verify your Netflix region. If you're halfway through a season, check the "Leaving Soon" section on Netflix. They usually give a 30-day warning if the show is about to migrate to another platform.
- Download the BBC iPlayer app if you're in the UK. It is, hands down, the best way to watch. The interface is clean, and the HD quality is superb.
- Search for "Call the Midwife Special" specifically. If you feel like you've missed something, specifically search for the year + Christmas special on your platform of choice. They are often tucked away in "Extras" or "Special Features" tabs.
The midwives aren't going anywhere. Even if the platform changes, the demand for Sister Julienne’s wisdom and Shelagh Turner’s organizational skills is too high for the show to stay offline for long. Find your platform, grab a box of tissues, and settle in. Poplar is waiting.