Helen George gives huge career update away from Call the Midwife

Call the Midwife star Helen George , who plays Nurse Trixie Aylward on the long running BBC period drama, has announced her next career move away from the show. The 41-year-old mum of two will appear opposite TV icon Basil Brush in panto this festive season appearing in Cinderella at London's Richmond Theatre. The star will play the Fairy Godmother opposite Olivier award nominated actor Charlie Stemp as buttons. Meanwhile Basil will portray Baron Basil in the show. The production will run for a month from December 6 until January 4 and although the opening is over four months away tickets are already on sale. The official blurb says it is:"Packed with all the traditional pantomime ingredients Richmond Theatre audiences love, this enchanting panto features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses."

This is Helen's latest project away from the Poplar set medical drama following her appearance in ITV's Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters. The reality show sees her appear opposite the likes of Amandaland star Lucy Punch and comedy legend Sir Lenny Henry.

Her new ventures come as show bosses have been forced to confirm the show's future amidst rumours it was set to be axed.

They have officially announced not one but two spin offs. Production of a two-part Christmas Special, set in Hong Kong and Poplar, has just ended and this will be followed by eight new hour-long episodes set to broadcast from January 2026.

However this won't be the only fix for fans next year as it has been confirmed a prequel TV series set in Poplar during World War 2 has been commissioned for the BBC in 2026.

In addition a Call the Midwife film is in the works. This will be set overseas in 1972 and feature iconic characters from the existing TV show.

Although nothing is yet known of the plot given that the new series will cover 1971, it is likely it will pick up after the events of the upcoming season. The new projects will be written, created and produced by the all-female team behind the hugely successful long running period drama - showrunner Heidi Thomas and executive producers Pippa Harris and Ann Tricklebank.

However, for viewers worried this might be a send off for the show, it was also announced they will helm series 16 together in due course meaning the show will continue to run on BBC for the foreseeable future.

Explaining what viewers can expect from these exciting new additions creator and writer Heidi, said: "The opening of new doors at Nonnatus House feels profoundly emotional, and yet just right. I have never run out of stories for our midwives, and I never will. But having wept, laughed, and raged my way from 1957 to 1971, I found myself yearning to delve into the deeper past.

"The Blitz years in the East End were extraordinary - filled with loss, togetherness, courage and joy. The bombs fell, the babies kept on coming, and the Sisters kept on going. There will be so much in the prequel for our wonderful, loyal fans, including the appearance of some familiar (if much younger!) faces."