"Call the Midwife" season 3 finale aired tonight on PBS, and to the delight of fans, season 4 has been renewed.

The show's lead character Jenny Lee, played by actress Jessica Raine, will be leaving the show permanently. Her character has not been killed off, so there is still a glimmer of hope that she may be returning to make guest appearances in the future.

Raine announced earlier this year that she would be leaving the show to pursue a bigger career.

She previously told The Independent: "It's been a real privilege to help bring Jenny Lee's story alive and amazingly satisfying to see how the public have embraced the series, but as is in keeping with Jenny's story, it's time for me to explore pastures new."

The BBC period drama is based on the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth, with tales of midwifery and families living in the East End of London.

The show also stars Miranda Hart, Helen George, Bryony Hannah, Laura Main, Jenny Agutter, Pam Ferris, Judy Parfitt, Cliff Parisi, Stephen McGann, Ben Caplan, Emerald Fennell and Victoria Yeates.

The series first premiered in the UK on January 15, 2012. Its first series achieved high ratings, leading to a second series in early 2013.

Call the Midwife has been commissioned for a 2014 Christmas Special and fourth season set to air in 2015.