Call the Midwife season 7: Emerald Fennell leaving (for now)

Earlier this week, the news was announced that Call the Midwife season 7 has a new addition. However, in the process they may be losing Emerald Fennell.

In a couple of posts on Twitter, the actress confirmed that she will not be returning to the BBC series in the role of Patsy Mount — at least for the time being. She claims that the folks at the show allowed her the time away in order to further pursue her career as a writer, something that she over time has become all the more prolific at. Her work in the writing world is one of the reasons why Fennell was gone for much of season 6, as Patsy opted to head overseas in order to care for her then-ailing father. She (spoiler alert for the season 6 finale) returned in the closing minutes of the finale and had a nice moment with her longtime love Delia, further professing her adoration for her in the midst of Barbara and Tom’s wedding celebration.

As for how Heidi Thomas will choose to craft a story without her, that remains to be seen. For now, though, it’ll be somewhat sad to see her go given that she’s become such a beloved part of the series. The door certainly seems open for a return at some point in the future. The thing about this show is that it’s become far bigger than any one cast member, and it continues to grow and evolve as more and more people come in and out of Nonnatus House. The departure of Jessica Raine after the first few seasons remains one of the biggest headlines on the show; since that time, they’ve also lost another prominent midwife in Miranda Hart’s Chummy. Like with Fennell, the door is certainly still open for her to return at some point in the future, as well.

New episodes of Call the Midwife will resume this Christmas over on the BBC. Beyond that, there will of course be the finale episode airing on PBS tomorrow, and season 7 proper will premiere at some point in the UK early next year pending some surprise announcement.

What do you think about the news of Fennell’s departure, at least for the time being? Sound off in the comments below!

Meanwhile, head over here to get some further news regarding the newcomer heading aboard the show sooner rather than later. (Photo: BBC.)