Last year, a whopping 9.6 million people tuned in for the Call the Midwife Christmas Special with its scenes filmed in Kent.

The show has been filmed on location at the Historic Dockyard Chatham since 2011.

Last year took a look back at the Big Freeze of winter 1963 while this year's special - filmed earlier this year at the dockyard - moves on to 1964 and will be screened on Christmas Day.

As Poplar prepares for Christmas, the nuns travel to the Mother House to elect a new mother superior.

Sister Julienne is the obvious replacement and must face this possibility as her future at Nonnatus House hangs in the balance. As they ready to leave, Sister Mildred - played by Miriam Margolyes - an indefatigable member of their order, arrives unexpectedly with four Chinese orphans en route to the Children’s Home at the Mother House.

There is also a return for Trixie, played by Helen George who took maternity leave last year, who returns from Portofino with her troubles behind her.

Cast members, including original Jenny Agutter, revealed some of the special's features when they visited the dockyard in May to open new tours with Neal Productions.

This year's episode will be on BBC1 on Christmas Day at 7.45pm.

Series eight, which follows, will be set in 1964 and focuses on women's rights and medical rights.

Call the Midwife tours at the dockyard start again on Friday, March 9, 2019. To book and find out more click here.