Medical drama Call The Midwife has been renewed for two more series, the BBC said.

The award-winning period drama, starring Jennifer Kirby as a midwife in London’s East End of the 1960s, will now be on the air until at least 2022.

The previously announced series nine will start filming shortly, the BBC said, while producers have given series 10 and 11 the green light.

Leonie Elliott stars in Call The Midwife, which has been renewed for two more series by the BBC (Sophie Mutevelian/BBC/PA) More

The newly ordered series will each contain eight episodes plus Christmas specials.

Heidi Thomas, creator, writer and executive producer of Call The Midwife, said: “Even after all these years, it still feels as though Call The Midwife has more truth to tell, more tears to cry, more life to celebrate, and more love to give.

“We are blessed with the best cast, crew, and audience a show could wish for, and I could not be more excited about our future.”

Charlotte Moore, director of BBC content, said the corporation is “delighted” to have extended “such a very special show”.

Since launching in 2012, Call The Midwife has become one of BBC One’s biggest shows and series eight, currently airing in the UK, is averaging nine million viewers per episode, the broadcaster said.

The show has been praised for its exploration of contentious social issues, including teenage pregnancy, mixed-race marriages, adoption, cot death and abortion.