Call the Midwife season 14 Christmas special spoilers follow.
FredaClaus (aka Fred Buckle in his Santa get-up) has made his way to Poplar, which can only mean one thing: presents for all the good children.
But there's only one gift Call the Midwife fans want in the stocking this year (now that Reggie's been found) and that's some clarification on Trixie (Helen George) and Matthew's (Olly Rix) fate.
Practically the royal couple of Poplar, the Aylwards went through a dreadful will-they-won't-they make it time throughout season 13, which culminated in Matthew leaving for New York to start afresh with a new business, having placed the family in financial ruin in London.
He, of course, pleaded with Trixie to join him, and after a lot of anguished debate, she agreed, leaving Nonnatus for the States, for her family.
This Christmas special, however, saw the return of Lady Aylward, who dropped into town (without her husband) and got stuck straight into the festivities. Her intention was to fly back to New York for Christmas, had it not been for the "freezing fog and industrial action" grounding her flight.
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Trixie's appearance was no great surprise – George had always been pegged to return, not only for the special but also for season 14.
It was Rix's Matthew, however, who gave cause for concern.
The BBC hasn't officially announced Olly Rix's departure from the show, despite all the evidence (and the rumours) suggesting that he has left.
The broadcaster seems intent on keeping us in the dark, but judging by tidbits of information revealed in the Christmas special – Matthew's successful, growing company being one of them – it doesn't seem like Rix will be back any time soon, at least not as a regular. But what does that mean for Trixie, who is confirmed for season 14?
Many fans feared this would lead to more heartbreak for the unlucky-in-love nurse, but thankfully it appears Call the Midwife has found a way to make their relationship work without putting Trixie through the emotional wringer once more. At least if we've read the signs right, they have.
Despite taking a forced pause in her nursing career due to the move, Trixie was compelled back into the field when Shelagh (Laura Main) telephoned Nonnatus in desperate need of a midwife.
The eventual smooth delivery of the baby sharpened the dull ache Trixie had been feeling due to the absence of her work. During an AA meeting, she admitted that while there was plenty she didn't miss about the profession – testing urine, riding her bike on the cobblestones during heavy rain – she did miss the fulfilment she felt helping a labouring mother birth her child and feeling of belonging.
"I've learnt to be good at not craving things that hurt me," she said, "but I can't stop craving the things that make me whole."
When Trixie was forced to stay for Christmas, she ended up discussing her life away from Poplar with Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter).
"Home won't be England for another year or so," Trixie revealed, once again placing emphasis on the temporary nature of their leave, but she also stated that the business is doing well, which is "getting in the way".
We can only surmise that she means in the way of her work, as Sister Julienne then followed up by asking if she intends to resume midwifery when she returns.
"I never intended to stop," Trixie shared, and her expression denoted how shocking and ridiculous the idea of her stopping would truly be to her. She then explained that the process to become a registered midwife in America is a lengthy one involving different exams in different states and shared that she worries her skills will become rusty.
"You must come back to us," Sister Julienne instantly said, before adding "for a short time at least", which gives an opening for Trixie's plausible return without Matthew in a way that will keep their marriage intact.
It seems that season 14 will see Trixie jetting back and forth between her life in New York and her life in Poplar, building a home with Matthew and stepson Jonty (Archie O'Callaghan) in the States, and taking her exams while maintaining her skills back in Poplar. It will be hard work, undoubtedly, but what's a year to Trixie, who has never been afraid of hard work?
This also leaves the door open for Matthew's occasional or even eventual return, should Rix be able to fit it into his schedule now that he's been tipped to be joining Casualty.
Thankfully, the turn of the new year means a new season of Call the Midwife, so there isn't long to wait before we get the answers we've been craving.
Call the Midwife airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
