The annual Call the Midwife Christmas special is scheduled to air Sunday night on PBS - here's what you need to know.

It wouldn't be Christmas without the airing of a new Call the Midwife special! This time around, the midwives of Poplar head to South Africa to help save an underfunded hospital.

"Follow the Nonnatus House family to South Africa after they receive an SOS call from a mission hospital that's understaffed, underfunded and threatened with closure," says the official PBS description. "Facing tough challenges, they dig deep to save Hope Clinic and make a difference."

Directed by Syd Macartney and written by series creator Heidi Thomas, the Call the Midwife Christmas special will help show the spirit of the holiday season through the selfless acts of the Nonnatus House family.

"'Call the Midwife' remains an incredibly popular program among PBS stations and their viewers, and we are thrilled to offer a taste of the sixth season with this holiday special ahead of the spring premiere," said Beth Hoppe, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming. "The series has been praised for its compassionate and bold approach to issues including stillbirth, mental health, abortion, homosexuality, race and disability. We are thankful to be working with Neal Street and look forward to the special and season 6."

The Call the Midwife Christmas special will air Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on PBS, and will conclude at 9 p.m. ET/PT. It remains to be seen if PBS will upload the special online after Christmas, but keep checking this page Monday morning.

To live tweet and follow along with others watching the Call the Midwife Christmas special, use hashtag #CalltheMidwife on Twitter.

Tags: Call The Midwife PBS television