The birth of a festive special of Call The Midwife to rival “Downton Abbey.”

BBC Drama series Call The Midwife is set to grace our screens over the Christmas period for a special episode, the BBC has confirmed.

Created by Heidi Thomas, and based on based on the memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth, the hit show focuses on a group of nursing nuns set in 1950’s East End of London.

The all star cast of series one will be returning for the festive special including; Jenny Agutter, Pam Ferris and Miranda Hart ahead of series two which returns in 2013.

The successful drama proved to be BBC One’s biggest new drama in over a decade, resulting in the BBC recommissioning a second series after just two episodes of series one had aired.

BBC drama controller Ben Stephenson said: “Following its huge success, we simply couldn’t resist treating audiences to a Call The Midwife special this year – our Christmas present for all BBC One viewers.”

Executive producer Pippa Harris said: “As the nights draw in and Christmas approaches the residents of Nonnatus House pull together to celebrate the season in their own very special way.

“Christmas celebrates one particular birth, and so it’s especially fitting for BBC One to pay a visit to these much-loved characters, whose daily lives revolve around the joys and tribulations of childbirth.”

Call The Midwife Christmas special is thought to be airing on Christmas Day. Series two will return early 2013.