Call the Midwife stars Helen George and Olly Rix have both been rumoured to be leaving the show in the upcoming 13th season. However, HELLO! understands that this is not the case.
Helen's departure from the show was first reported by The Sun earlier this month, with the publication claiming that her character, Trixie Franklin, decides to leave. The outlet also reported that Olly, who plays Matthew Aylward, had been written out of the scripts.
HELLO! understands that Helen is not leaving the drama at the end of season 13, and that Olly will appear in the entirety of series 13, with the door left open for his character. His departure has not yet been confirmed by the BBC.
Helen has featured in the show's main cast since the very first episode, which premiered back in 2012. Olly joined the programme in season ten, with his character immediately forming a bond with Trixie, who helped his wife Fiona deliver their baby.
Fiona's sudden death from leukaemia led to a friendship between Trixie and Matthew, before a slow-burning romance ensued.
At the end of season 12, the characters tied the knot in a joyous finale, which aired earlier this year.
Season 13, which is set in 1969, is expected to premiere in 2024 and will feature stories from within the Sylheti and Nigerian communities and from around the docks, covering health issues such as Tetanus, Cerebral Palsy, Congenital Hip Dysplasia, Porphyria and TB.
The new episodes promise to explore "complex medical and personal situations on the midwifery and district nursing rounds". With more babies being born than ever, "pressure on maternity beds remains extremely high across the country but Poplar is coping better than most due to the work of Nonnatus House and the popularity of home births under the auspices of the Sisters," the synopsis teases.
Poplar will also receive two new arrivals in the form of student midwives and roommates, Joyce Highland and Rosalind Clifford.
Renee Bailey will play Joyce, a "hardworking fiercely bright and deeply kind," pupil from Trinidad. Meanwhile, Natalie Quarry portrays Rosalind, who is "passionate, funny and naive at times".
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Creator Heidi Thomas previously said: "As 1969 unfolds we will see change and challenge rock the world of our beloved nuns, nurses, medics, and midwives. Newcomers Joyce and Rosalind arrive with much to learn, and much to give."
Viewers are also in for "a few shocks" according to Helen, who teased the new episodes whilst chatting with Zoe Ball on her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show in September.
"We're filming at the moment. So I'm sort of discovering the stories as we go along," she explained. "It's another exciting year, lots of babies. I can't tell you much more than that.
"There's a few shocks," the 39-year-old added.