A Call the Midwife spin-off has been teased, following creator Heidi Thomas revealing the series may “take a break at some point”.

Discussing the BBC period drama's future, Thomas explained: “Those of us who are most invested with the show, cast and producers alike, who have been there since the beginning, it is our lives.

“I don’t believe Call The Midwife will ever end. But I do think we might take a break at some point.”

The writer also told Radio Times she is “not in a position to talk about things” currently but there is a “rolling, ongoing conversation” about the show’s future that they have at this stage every year.

She added that they do see opportunities to “expand” the Call The Midwife world, which is the direction they will go if the main show takes a break.

Will there be a Call the Midwife spin-off when series 'takes a  break'?

However, a TV insider has now told The Sun that the first spin-off series of the hit BBC show could focus on the “early years” of Trixie Franklin, currently played by Helen George.

The Poplar character “would take centre stage and be portrayed by another actress, possibly in her teens or early twenties”.

It’s suggested the prequel would take the storyline back to the 50s, instead of the current Call the Midwife era of the 70s.

This would be around the time Trixie was starting out in her career.

A TV insider said: “Trixie is an obvious choice of subject because she is one of the wilder characters at Nonnatus House and therefore has the potential for a more interesting back story.

“When we were introduced to her in series one in 2012 she was in her early twenties and was already very worldly. So there is much to take a deep dive into.

“But everything is at a very early stage and there are so many options open to the show’s creators because it’s still one of the Beeb’s most-watched programmes.”

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The BBC One series, which charts the early years of the fictional Nonnatus House in London’s East End, has been a huge success since it debuted in 2012.

The finale of series 14 airs on Sunday, March 2 from 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Newsquest has contacted the BBC for comment.