There are mixed reactions from the midwives when they hear that a television crew will be filming their church carol service featuring the local children's choir. An outbreak of measles amongst the choristers almost stops the show but fortunately Shelagh comes up with a solution whilst Patsy and Barbara join Tom in taking a party of children to see the Regent Street lights where Patsy is reunited with an old flame. Meanwhile Sister Monica Joan, after a row with Sister Evangelina, disappears again, causing alarm until Phyllis picks up on where she may have gone and down-trodden church cleaner Iris and her husband have a happy Christmas surprise. Written by don @ minifie-1

Patsy and Shelagh are shocked when experienced mother Rhoda Mullocks gives birth to a baby girl with severely malformed arms - the result, though nobody realizes - of Rhoda taking the pain killer thalidomide and Dr Turner is baffled. Rhoda's husband Bernie rejects the child as a monster, putting him at odds with his wife who wants to keep her, and Sister Mary Cynthia has to work hard to make him change his view. Meanwhile Trixie starts a keep fit class, where she discovers a problem encountered by elderly student Olive and Patsy is overjoyed when Delia comes to stay at the convent. Written by don @ minifie-1

Barbara is concerned when she finds that docker Johnny Beckett is spending time in the pub and not going to work as he tells pregnant wife Stella - but Johnny has a reason and a terrible secret which he believes will prevent him from seeing his new-born, resulting in a race against time. Sister Evangelina has cause to doubt her profession skills and takes a six month break from the convent when her insistence that Connie Manley breast feeds her baby almost results in the child's death whilst Phyllis finds romance with the charming Tommy, whom she meets at Spanish class - though he too has a secret. A budding romance between Barbara and Tom is more straightforward - as Trixie notices. Written by don @ minifie-1

Having delivered Jeanette Su's daughter Patsy realizes that Jeanette has typhoid, unlocking old memories of her time in a Japanese internment camp. As the disease claims another victim Jeanette's Chinese husband Benny seems the most likely suspect but Dr Turner discovers the carrier to be an unlikely source. Meanwhile popular primary school teacher Dorothy Whitmore loses her job and flat after falling pregnant by a married man and needs to be found accommodation by the nuns. Dorothy's attempts to rectify matters almost cost her her life and require the kindly intervention of Sister Winifred whilst Patsy plays down her friendship with Delia and Barbara feels guilty about her date with Tom. Written by don @ minifie-1

Trixie visits burns victim Sadie Bulmer, whose teen-aged son Ian has gained a university place and wants to use it to better life for himself and childhood sweetheart Linda. However Linda falls pregnant, jeopardizing his opportunity and Ian agrees to stay with her. Then Fate steps in. Sister Julienne's patient Ruby Cottingham's difficult pregnancy means hospital admission. But Ruby has been taking thalidomide as a pain-killer and the birth is a far from happy event, requiring a deception on the sister's part and puzzling Dr Turner as more deformed babies are born. On a happier note Trixie tells Barbara there are no hard feelings over her dating Tom Written by don @ minifie-1

Phyllis is concerned for Roseanne Dawley, who delivered her baby daughter herself but is now a nervous and unconfident mother, ultimately leaving her older husband Denis literally holding the baby as she disappears. In ratifying the situation Phyllis discovers that Roseanne has a less than innocent past and is frightened her daughter will take after her. Meanwhile Dr Turner, alarmed at the high incidences of lung disease in the area, opens a specialist clinic, unaware of the link between cancer and smoking and Fred has trouble coping when he has to run his wife's shop after she has done her back in. Written by don @ minifie-1

Barbara and Tom go to the aid of a prostitute, who has been bitten by her assailant - the first of a series of similar vicious attacks on women. The culprit is caught, largely due to information from his latest victim - one of the midwives whose experience causes a crisis of faith. Middle-aged Thora Hills tells the nurses she is expecting another child but is secretly covering for pregnant unmarried daughter Diane, abandoned by her baby's father. Trixie and Sister Mary Cynthia have to act quickly to avoid disaster when Thora attempts a home birth to maintain the secrecy - and matters are not helped by elderly Dr Godfrey, who has come out of retirement to allow Dr Turner a much-deserved holiday. Written by don @ minifie-1

Dr Turner is excited to be administering the contraceptive pill, which he hopes will prevent unwanted pregnancies, though Sister Julienne has moral misgivings. One couple who would have benefited by it are Gina and Leslie, who only married because she was pregnant with Leslie showing little interest in upcoming fatherhood. Bargee's wife Daisy Blacker, whose itinerant life-style has denied her children schooling, is reluctant to leave her barge and brood to have her latest but her commitment to her children and Leslie's to his wife are tested during a violent storm bringing Phyllis and Patsy out on call. Phyllis surprises Patsy with an admission while next morning the storm has passed and the calm brings with it a welcome face returning. Written by don @ minifie-1

Horrified to read in 'The Lancet' that thalidomide is being withdrawn because of its devastating effect Dr Turner needs the nurses' help in identifying the patients to whom he prescribed it and warning them. However he is also called out to an emergency at the convent, which leaves the midwives in despair and the whole area in mourning. The passing does at least provide a positive for a hastily arranged wedding, whose celebrations require a call for the midwife. Written by don @ minifie-1