The Real Marigold Hotel

We changed channels. It was awful. We are watching The Marigold Hotel at the moment for the umpteenth time. We love going to India and can just imagine it all happening.

The advert for it was enough to put me off,that disgusting horrible thing,why would anyone find that entertaining,
The usual reason they're on those sort of programs is because they can't get acting roles,probably alienated themselves with their,I'm the most important person behaviour.

BOth OH and I enjoyed both these programmes and had recently caught up with the original series on IPlayer. Have always loved MM for being so joyfully outrageous yet very warm hearted and generous. I am not sure I really understand the intolerance for her here - as for admonishing her for her opinions of the dire Trump (who is misogynistic, dishonest (is subject to numerous court cases in US) and a danger to world peace - I am flummoxed especially in one situation where a man just burst in on a conversation.
Perhaps I am wrong but I had really thought the whole idea of these programmes was to place these diverse personalities in differing situations and find out what they really thought about it - a lot of polite platitudes would have made for a very boring programme. I also have a sneaking feeling that seeing people 'warts and all' is no bad thing - I grew up being far too intolerant and a proper little social snob - thankfully the older I get the more tolerant of people's foibles I become. None of the people featured in any of the shows were really unpleasant to my mind, yes they all had annoying traits and I would probably find several of them hard to spend time with, but they all revealed themselves to be decent human beings who could be depended upon to help and support each other.

I found the programme very entertaining. Yes MM probably plays up a bit but I can't help liking her. I loved the way she flew at that pompous bullying Republican man who burst into her conversation with other ladies. Obviously used to being kowtowed to. Didn't know what had hit him when that tiny whirlwind gave better than she got.
Japan does seem a little too alien to me although it was beautiful.
All four of them seemed to like the first Florida community.
I suppose we must have some here but minus the weather of course.

I agree - of course the residents were forewarned.

And I hasten to add that I was only making the point in my previous point that it was this particular lot who would probably enjoy the Florida retirement option the most (they seemed to at the time, anyway!).

I don't think any of them would like the Japanese way of life long-term, and there did seem to be a bit of a problem with accepting gay relationships there.

Agree BlueBelle that I could live quite happily in Japan.The gated communities in Florida were appalling and even more appalling! Self-absorbed, artificial, obscenely rich, utterly selfish and uncaring.
However the elderly quartet might have had special treatment in the context of the tv programme being made!! Maybe we'd find things a little different.

Not being much of a telly watcher, I missed this, but enjoyed the previous one. I'll hunt it down!

I enjoyed it although I don't think any of them came across that well I think Bobby George seemed the least obnoxious with the little Japanese sisters picking up lubberly jubberly very sweetly. I think Wayne Sleep is very self absorbed and up his own whatsit Rosemary is awfully irritating as usual no difference there, and Miriam although I rather like her, definitely overdid the crudeness

I thought how lovely Japanese old age was compared to those absolutely hideous face lifted people in US I couldn't have managed an hour in that gated community but I liked the Japanese way of later life

Not at all what I was expecting but not having seen previous Marigold Hotel programmes that probably isn't a surprise to everyone else. I hoped this was going to be about retirement options in two completely different countries and cultures rather than the crude and ignorant behaviour of Miriam Margoyles and I admired the Americans and Japanese for the way they dealt with her unseemly comments and rudeness.

I quite enjoyed the Indian programme. But felt the others were rather contrived. I don't think I could spend too much time in the company of any of them bit especially M M. The thought of living in either of the two American communities would fill me with horror.

Didn't really like any of it, seemed very contrived and not funny. I agree with the points luckygirl made.
Can't say that George & Sleep brought much to the programme either.

Well I am going to disagree, OH and I enjoyed both programmes they showed a side of life in other countries we do not often see. Some of the scenery in Japan was beautiful.

MM commented on the quiet if the suburbs and how she and Rosemary were loud, they both seemed very self aware and no different from thousands of British holiday makers.

Life is not easy as you get older and I think to put yourself in the spotlight for all to see and share experiences to demonstrate a different lifestyle is not embarrassing it is reality TV and no different from many other programmes people seem to watch.

I'm disappointed with this series. Its difficult to like MM's behaviour overall, I could forgive the flatulence problem if it were a health issue (I have IBS so know the embarrassment) but at some stage she said she could stop it if she wanted to, if you have choice why do it? Rosemary seems to be no different to how she is in all her tv appearances, yes, very loud for the Japanese culture but at least consistent. The Japanese approach to older age is interesting, as is the morning exercise, neither are bad things. I thoroughly enjoyed the previous Marigold series, had high expectations but sadly they haven't been met.

And why did MM feel the need to adopt a Bronx-style American accent to conduct her slanging matches with the Trump voters...?

I'm no Donald Trump fan but the way MM laid into the Americans she met who voted for him was appalling. She may have said what a lot of us are thinking but it's their country and their vote.

I did chuckle when the Jewish woman, who'd left Germany on the kindertransport, led Miriam to believe she was a kindred spirit then walked off leaving MM open mouthed when she announced she'd voted for Trump.

I agree about their behaviour, it was embarrassing to say the least. I thought the Indian programmes worked better. A gated community fills me with horror! All those old people. I thought the Japanese had a better approach to old age. They certainly are quite successful at it . Fish , fowl, vegetables and exercise the way to go folks!

I was embarrassed by the two women too. Having visited Japan many years ago to less touristy areas I really did try to be extra polite but I did find the language barrier and custom of not showing how you really feel quite difficult. I also 'enjoyed' a Japanese ladies bath - not individual ones as in the programme - which was an experience indeed especially as there were many Japanese ladies surreptitiously taking a peak to see if I was any different to them!!! One Japanese airhostess asked if I was pregnant though - she was so tiny herself and horribly embarrassed when I said no [I was a size 12 in those days!]. I had to calm her down. I'm interested in the history of the country and I certainly liked the morning exercise they showed - perhaps we should start doing this in the UK! - but I wouldn't like to live there in spite of the cleanliness of their loos and the accompanying gadgetry!!!

It was so cringe-inducing that I switched channels. A great pity because it could have been really interesting.

I found last night's episode as embarrassing as people on this thread have pointed out. The first episode was OK I thought - but this was so undignified and presented an cringeworthy representation of the Brits at play.

I do think that Miriam is an excellent character actress - her performance in Ladies in Lavender is a gem! - but she should stick to that. Her obsession with bodily functions is nothing short of ridiculous; and the constant attention-seeking is very childish.

How nice it would be to do the same coverage with different more representative people - maybe non -celebs even! I am all celebed out!

I have watched snatches of this but am equally appalled at Miriam and Rosemary who I previously had liked in their professional roles but I wonder if they are just playing to the camera - didn't work for me I switched off embarrassed.

Jan Leeming has said that she wasn't asked.

I missed the first programme but I watched the Japan trip. Heaven help us if the Japanese think that we are all as loud as Miriam and Rosemary. I could not believe it when I heard that Miriam farted deliberately in public.

I agree that Miriam is rather outspoken and forthright. TV producers gold. Her farting could be a health problem though. She seems to have toilet up issues!

Rosemary is well aware of her weight problem and I felt very sorry for her when she spoke about being fat in her childhood. Some people are more inclined to put on, and hold on to, weight. I don't think she is lazy. She always seems to be bustling around and in previous episode and series is always putting on big 'dos' which need a lot of preparation. She says herself she can't sit still.

Isn't it funny how we comment on women's weight. What about the dart player?

I thought the men tried to behave well and seem very nice, but those two women, I hazard to call them Ladies, were awful.
Self-centered and so self-oppinionated, I kept wanting a volume control for Rosemary she was so loud and attention seeking.
Words fail me about Miriams' farting in company, and they both seem to be of the impression that their opinions are the only ones worth listening to.
I think what really annoyed me last night was they kept being told how to behave and just ignored any advice. I hope those two nice Japanese sisters have met other Brits or they will never welcome any into their house again.

Doubt she would want to be in a programme about retirement homes

Perhaps she has found another man.