Call the Midwife has been around for a long time—perhaps longer than you think. It began in the form of Jennifer Worth’s memoirs, first published in 2002, and later as the beloved TV series produced by the BBC.

Now in its 15th season, the show has been going strong for well over a decade, and while a new season and a prequel movie are in the works, there’s going to be a bit of a wait, as the creators are taking a bit of a breather. If you're looking for something to fill the gap, we’ve already suggested some TV shows you should stream, but if you want to range a little wider, there are also lots of books, movies, video games, and even podcasts that bring the same charm, warmth, and willingness to tackle real issues.

If you’ve got a hole in your reading list, books can offer a more intimate experience that mimics the feel and atmosphere of Call the Midwife.

The Midwife, by Jennifer Worth

Worth’s memoir about her time as a nurse and midwife in London’s East End in the 1950s is the source material for the show, and an absolute must-read if you’re a fan. Unsurprisingly, it’s exactly like the show: Worth recounts specific—often difficult or tragic—birth stories from her work as a midwife, but balances the trauma with fondly told stories of local gossip and shenanigans. She paints a rich portrait of a strong, resilient community that fans of the show will instantly recognize—and savor.

Women’s Hotel, by Daniel M. Lavery

If you’re looking for a woman-focused story about the power of community in rapidly changing times, check out Lavery’s first novel. In 1960s New York, the Biedermeier is a woman’s hotel where single, working ladies can safely rest their heads. When money troubles threaten to close it down, a cloud of doubt hovers over the residents—but that doesn’t reduce the charm and pleasure of reading about these sharply observed characters. The ways their lives weave together to make the Biedermeier the sort of place you wish you could actually visit.

The Midwife’s Sister, by Christine Lee

Jennifer Worth's memoirs don’t offer much detail on her own life outside of her experience as a nurse and midwife in 1950s London. Her sister fills in those blanks with her own memoir of the period. Lee recounts a childhood that was happy, safe, and spent with her beloved sister—until their parents separated, and the girls were sent off to a horrific boarding school where they were mistreated and miserable. The book offers invaluable insight into the world the show depicts, including some of the darker aspects.

Yes Sister, No Sister, by Jenifer Craig

If you’re looking for a readalike book that brings you more 1950s nursing vibes, pick up Yes Sister, No Sister. Craig’s memoir tells the story of her experience training as a nurse in Yorkshire in the 1950s. The discipline harsh, and the work is exhausting and gross—many girls dropped out of the program, but Craig was determined to be a success, and she found a warm and supportive family in her fellow trainees. As in Call the Midwife, the serious work of nursing as described here is leavened by hilarious stories and romantic entanglements that remind Craig that life is meant to be lived.

All Creatures Great and Small, by James Herriot

This classic memoir is about the experiences of a veterinary surgeon working in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s and 1940s, and it offers the same sense of small-scale grace and tragedy found in Call the Midwife. Herriot (a pen name for James Alfred Wight) travels around the area, treating animal patients and getting involved in the dramas and hijinks of his neighbors. There’s sadness, joy, and a sense of a community bound together so tightly it can survive almost anything, making this the perfect companion to the show.

The best movies like Call the Midwife

One of the best things about Call the Midwife is how deep it goes—fifteen seasons so far, with more to come. If you want to linger in a similar fictional universe for a while, one of these movies is just the ticket.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

If you love the sense of community and the way the residents of Poplar struggle through adversity in Call the Midwife, you’ll love The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The story follows author Juliet Ashton (Lily James) in postwar Britain as she becomes involved with residents of the island of Guernsey, who formed the titular book club during the Nazi occupation of the island as both a cover for their resistance efforts and a way to comfort and support each other. It’s a warm celebration of how books and community can get you through anything. Stream The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on Netflix.

Vera Drake (2004)

If you find the way Call the Midwife explores women’s health and social issues stirring, check out Vera Drake. It stars Imelda Staunton in the title role, a kindly wife and mother in London in 1950, beloved by her community for the support she offers to all who need it. She also secretly provides abortions to local women, doing the work for free, as she sees it as a kindness. When a procedure goes wrong and Vera is arrested, she’s abandoned by many she thought she could count on—but her community soon feels the loss of her presence. It’s a heartbreaking exploration of many themes found in Call the Midwife, anchored by a stellar cast. Rent Vera Drake on Prime Video.

Made in Dagenham (2010)

If you love the humor and sense of feminine solidarity found in Call the Midwife, you’ll love this rousing 2010 film. Based on a true story, it follows a group of women working as sewing machinists at a Ford automobile plant in Dagenham, London, in the late 1960s. Paid less than their male counterparts and enduring a sexist and unfair work environment, the women organize and go on strike, shocking their local community—and forcing real change in English society. Rent Made in Dagenham on Prime Video.

Philomena (2013)

Many of the most powerful stories told over the course of Call the Midwife’s run explore the way women and pregnancy were treated in the mid-20th century. Philomena tells the story of a woman who is sent to a convent in Ireland in 1951 when she becomes pregnant after a one-night stand. Forced to work in the convent’s laundry, she is devastated when her son is given up for adoption without her knowledge. Fifty years later, she hires a journalist to track down her lost child, exposing the horrifying way unwed mothers were treated and the traumatic impact it had on everyone involved. Rent Philomena on Prime Video.

Brooklyn (2015)

If you’re looking for a story that combines rich period details, romance, and the power of women supporting each other, Brooklyn, based on the novel by Colm Tóibín, is just the ticket. In 1951, a young Irish woman, Ellis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), immigrates to America in search of a better life. In Brooklyn, she stays at a boarding house for young Irish women and finds a supportive community that helps her slowly acclimate to her new life. When Ellis returns to Ireland after her mother’s death, things get very complicated. Fans of Call the Midwife will love the setting and the character’s fierce determination to make her own choices in life. Rent Brooklyn on Prime Video.

The best video games like Call the Midwife

A lot of Call the Midwife’s charm lies in its cozy and patient storytelling. If you’re a gamer looking to immerse yourself in that sort of vibe, you’re in luck.

Strange Horticulture

Part of the joy of a show like Call the Midwife is slowly getting to know the characters and their local community. That’s what Strange Horticulture offers: You play as the inheritor of your uncle’s store, which sells botanical remedies to the locals—remedies that often have powerful and unexpected effects (and side effects). As you are drawn into a murder investigation and seek to assist the residents with their problems, you'll sink into a beautifully rendered world, and see your choices affect the course of the story.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam, Xbox

Lake

In Lake, you play as Meredith Weiss, a burned-out software developer who returns to her hometown of Providence Oaks, Oregon in 1986 for a break, agreeing to work as a mail carrier for a few weeks. You travel around town delivering the mail and interacting with the residents. The plot possibilities are warm and organic, and offer community-based, woman-centered storylines that echo the vibe of the TV show.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam

Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture

Although this game is more of an ominous sci-fi mystery than a cozy community tale like Call the Midwife, the gameplay centers on immersing yourself in the lives of a small community of people in a Shropshire village called Yaughton. Everyone in town has vanished mysteriously, and you’re tasked with finding out the cause. As you wander the town, you can interact with various objects and forces to see recreations of events, and slowly piece together the truth. Along the way, you’ll get to know Yaughton and its residents intimately.

Platforms: PlayStation

Two Point Hospital

One of the subtle pleasures of Call the Midwife is watching the medical professionals wrestle with the logistical challenges of running a community clinic with limited resources. While Two-Point Hospital is visually very different and doesn’t delve into the serious topics the show trades in, it absolutely captures the challenge of running a healthcare facility for a group of charming people. The style is lighthearted and cartoonish, but the challenge is real, and will remind you of the day-to-day work done at Nonnatus House.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam

Thank Goodness You’re Here!

If you really take joy in the often silly and hilarious doings of the local citizens of Poplar, you’ll love Thank Goodness You’re Here! Virtually plotless, the game casts yoy as a traveling salesman who wanders around the northern England town of Barnsworth, interacting with its colorful residents. As you meet people, you have the opportunity to help them solve various problems. By the end of this cozy, cartoony game, you’ll have a deep understanding of the town and a collection of surreal, fun adventures conveyed in a lushly detailed comic style.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Steam

The best podcasts like Call the Midwife

Whether you want to immerse yourself more deeply in Call the Midwife’s lore and characters or you want to replicate the joy of discovering the show, here are a few podcasts that will definitely be what the doctor ordered.

Recall the Midwife

Want to just sit back and listen to some passionate fans (from both sides of the Atlantic) discuss the show? Recall the Midwife is perfect. This unofficial, fan-produced podcast tackles the series episode by episode, and glories in all things Midwife, offering both American and British perspectives on the characters and issues tackled. It’s become one of the most popular CTM podcasts despite being 100% DIY.

Tales from Call the Midwife

This official BBC podcast expands its focus by interviewing fans from around the world who discuss the ways Call the Midwife has influenced their lives, intersected with their own health and medical experiences, or prompted conversations about social issues. Less an analysis of the show and more of a celebration of its influence and the love its audience has for it, if you want to explore the global community of its fandom, this is a great place to start.

Home Front

If you want more heartfelt, character-driven historical fiction exploring the resiliency and sense of community enjoyed by British citizens, Home Front is a perfect choice. Each episode tells a fictional story set during World War I, detailing how regular people dealt with the privation, dangers, and anxieties of a World War. With characters taken from every strata of society, the podcast slowly weaves a vibrant picture of the emotional and spiritual survival of an entire nation in the face of true horror.

The History Chicks

If watching Call the Midwife leaves you interested in the often-overlooked (or simply untold) roles of women in history and societal change, this podcast will help you catch up. Each episode tells the life story of one remarkable woman, from her birth to her death, and often underscores how vital and important these women were to their communities and the world at large.

Midnight Radio

This work of narrative fiction was inspired both by old-fashioned, 1950s radio broadcasts and the sort of small-town life that once existed around them. Both a ghost story of sorts and a love story, it’s a gauzy, nostalgic trip that celebrates and explores the joys of community while telling a heartbreaking tale between two women separated by more than just time.