Abbie Bray

Filming has finished on the three-part Christmas special Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms, which will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The prequel moves the story back to September 1939, depicting the Nonnatus House team caring for mothers and children in Poplar during the Blitz, amid evacuations, bombings and severe shortages in medical care. Heidi Thomas said the evacuation storyline brought the cast and crew to tears. Julie Hesmondhalgh, Helena Wilson, Ellie McKay, Liv Andrusier and Lizzie Back appear in newly released first-look images, while Jenny Agutter returns as narrator and Ami Metcalf reprises her earlier role.

Viewers expressed strong criticism of the extended entertainment-focused halftime show during the World Cup final, calling it out of place for a football match. Performances by major artists, including Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Burna Boy, drew mixed reactions, with many fans and football figures such as Wayne Rooney remarking negatively while others praised elements of the spectacle. Debate continued online amid concerns that broadcasters would shift away from traditional match analysis in favor of the show.

Robbie Williams’ appearance in a blue tracksuit during his World Cup 2026 closing ceremony performance drew strong viewer reactions, with many commenting that he looked unrecognisable. Williams performed alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini before the Spain–Argentina final, which followed Spain’s win over France and Argentina’s narrow victory over England. FIFA’s new Super Bowl-style halftime show featuring Shakira, Burna Boy, Madonna and Justin Bieber also generated debate. England concluded their tournament with a 6-4 win over France to secure third place after their semi‑final loss to Argentina.

Fans criticized the World Cup closing ceremony, calling it the worst ever while others defended performances by Post Malone and IShowSpeed. The final between Spain and Argentina featured a new Super Bowl-style halftime show curated by Chris Martin with appearances from major artists. England secured third place after defeating France, ending their tournament on a positive note.

Viewers complained about audio issues and commentary during the BBC’s coverage of England’s 6–4 World Cup Bronze Final win over France, criticising pundits for talking over the medal ceremony and poor sound quality. Others praised the World Cup montage aired afterward. Bukayo Saka, who scored a hat-trick, briefly walked away from a pitch‑side interview after a remark about England settling for bronze. England’s performance was highlighted alongside goals from Rice, Konsa and Bellingham, while disappointment lingered from their semi‑final loss to Argentina.

A caption error during the BBC’s broadcast of the London Diamond League prompted commentator Steve Cram to issue an on-air apology before coverage continued smoothly. The incident came as viewers voiced mixed reactions on social media, with some criticising the amount of studio discussion compared with live action, while others praised the presentation. Marcel Hug won the men’s 1500m wheelchair race after the brief technical issue was resolved.

Viewers criticised ITV pundit Gabriel Clarke for post‑match interviews after England’s win over Norway, accusing him of provoking discord within the team. Ofcom received 443 complaints focused on his questioning of Thomas Tuchel and Jude Bellingham, with Clarke suggesting the squad had a mentality issue, which Tuchel rejected. Social media reactions were largely negative, though some defended his approach.