New York — Neal Street Productions has appointed Spotlight Licensing and Brand Management to launch and manage the U.S. and Canadian  merchandise licensing program for the long-running and critically acclaimed Call the Midwife television series.

“Call the Midwife has engaged tens of millions of viewers over the years with its profound storytelling, compelling portrayals, and period costumes and setting” says Spotlight Licensing President Carole Postal. “Knowing PBS expects the upcoming season to reach 16.9 million unique viewers when Call the Midwife returns for Season 9 starting March 29, Spotlight is honored and excited to be given this opportunity to make this powerful and beloved property available now for licensing here in the U.S. and Canada.”

In announcing her agency’s appointment, Postal was pleased to reveal her agency has already signed and begun working with its first Call the Midwife licensee; Rizzoli International Publications has been granted the license to publish Call the Midwife 2021 Wall Calendars & 2022 Wall Calendars under its Universe Publishing imprint.

“Call the Midwife has already been renewed through Season 11 in 2022,” says Postal. “So it’s great to know fans will have beautiful calendars to mark as they wait for each new season to air on PBS and then Netflix.” The series premiered on the BBC in 2012 and moved to PBS in the U.S. in September 2012.

Spotlight Licensing will act as exclusive North American sub-agent for Call the Midwife – coordinating efforts with the property’s global master agent London-based Metrostar as they actively seek licensing partners across a wide range of appropriate product categories including gifts, novelties, apparel, accessories, housewares, stationery, puzzles, games, dolls, and more

“Metrostar has worked with Carole and her team before so we are delighted with Spotlight’s appointment to lead Call the Midwife licensing efforts in the U.S. and Canada,” says Claire Potter, Managing Director of Metrostar. Spotlight also was appointed last year to represent British author David McKee’s Elmer the Patchwork Elephant picture book series in North America.

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About Call the Midwife

Call the Midwife, a Neal Street Production for BBC and PBS, is a long-running and award-winning British period drama about the nurses, midwives, and nuns of Nonnatus House as they provide care to expectant women and the families in London’s impoverished East End during the 1950s and 1960s. Season 9 is scheduled to air on PBS beginning March 29, 2020 and the series has already been renewed for an additional two seasons beyond that (through Season 11 in 2022). Past seasons are available to stream via Netflix. In Canada, the series airs on Vision TV.

About Rizzoli International Publications / Universe Publishing

Rizzoli New York began its publishing operation in 1974 and has since become a leader in the fashion, interior design, culinary, art, architecture, and photography fields. Rizzoli’s Universe Publishing imprint was added in 1990, marking Rizzoli’s entrée into the pop-culture worlds of humor, beauty, sports, performing arts, and gay and alternative lifestyles, as well as a highly successful calendar program.

Spotlight Licensing

Spotlight Licensing and Brand Management, Inc. (spotlightlicensing.com) is a New York City based boutique licensing agency specializing in representation of Entertainment, Art/Design, Digital properties and Character Brands including BOO The World’s Cutest Dog, Call The Midwife, Downton Abbey, Elmer the Patchwork Elephant,  The Last Kingdom, Little House on the Prairie, Precious Moments, and more.

Press Contact:

Ken Wong