Call the midwife

There is always a slightly fanciful air to CTM, along with the gritty stuff. But the scenario fabricated for the Christmas episode was a step too far. Suddenly London can do without them all for 10 days!

We did wonder what on earth was happening in London Luckygirl

Babies on hold!

For anyone interested in reading more about the Highlands and Islands nursing service which predates the NHS by 35 years www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.scotsman.com/news-2-15012/the-gutsy-hebridean-heroines-who-inspired-the-nhs-1-4348997/amp

There’s also a book by one of the midwives and I did read somewhere that the scriptwriters of CTM we’re thinking of writing a spin off - not sure if that’s true though
islandsbooktrust.org/products/hebridean-heroines

Predated and were

I enjoyed the sentimentality and found it an antidote for BBC’s new version of a Christmas Carol which furnished us with swearing, dreariness and a total lack of magic.

I never enjoyed CTM, too saccharine sweet for me and totally unrealistic.
Unless London was a 100 years behind the rest of the country in the 50/60s it just didn’t ring true.
Having watched just a couple of episodes I was happy to give it a miss.

Perfectly possible to enjoy The Christmas Carol, Paddington and Call the Midwife.

Thanks for links SirChenjin - will put in a request at the library for the book - looks like a good read.

I only half-watched the CTM special last night but enjoyed it, although all those midwives seemed to double the population of the island!

The bit about the Christmas tree rang very true. My sons went to a Scottish primary school where the headmaster was from the islands and he was very austere. There was a battle each December between him and the PTA for a tree to be permitted in the school. He was a miserable old b*gger. This was in the 1980’s, too, not in the dark ages.

I don’t know how anyone can think that CTM is saccharine. There’s nothing sweet about incest, FGM, thalidomide and illegal abortions, which are all topics which have been covered over the years.

What does everyone think of the new series so far?

I came somewhat late to it As I thought it might be twee but I really enjoy it, can remember the 50s of my childhood in east London and the 60s, growing up and starting work.

I love the opening scenes, particularly the scene of the street with the ship at the end of the street.
This was my nans street with the King George v dock. I grew up with that view.

I am enjoying the new series. It presents a very halcyon version of nursing life back then, I feel. The solitary doctor is always able to dash off to any emergency, even though he seems to be the only GP at the surgery. The midwives seem able to turn their hands to anything, shopping, housework, social issues, and in their free time run scout groups, FP clinics, and this week running up designer wear from cast off clothes. And who cooks the delicious meals and bakes the lovely cakes they all seem to enjoy round the dining table?
But it’s a pleasant nostalgic way to spend Sunday evening.

I'm pleased to say that, although I found the Christmas special a disappointment, the new series has got off to a good start. The standard is just as good as before.
The doctor's baby son seems to have grown remarkably quickly! Perhaps they couldn't find a little boy of the right age?

I have enjoyed it in the past but rather bored with it now.

Thanks for your answers. I have really been enjoying the series. Meryl, that must be lovely for you to see places you know in the opening credits.

I loved the way Trixie was dressed in the Mary Quant type dress without the Peter pan collar, chignon hair and red tights.

I am still enjoying Call the Midwife, better than a lot of the rubbish on the TV.

I think the new series is much better than the Christmas special. I’m enjoying it again.

My dd is currently living in digs and the house could be used as a set for Call The Midwife!

I hate to say it as CTM has provided me with lots of welcome escapism on Wintry Sunday evenings, but I think it's starting to look a little tired.

Lucille and Val have never really come alive for me and I miss characters like Chummy, Patsy and Barbara.

It's nice to have Trixie providing some continuity, but would she really be still sharing a bedroom in Nonatus House, and sitting down to supper every evening with the nuns?

They've kept Sheila and Patrick in it but allowed their lives to evolve, moving out to the suburbs and adding to their family. I wish they'd do something with Trixie as well. Move her on in some way. Her original group, Jenny, Cynthia and Chummy have long departed to different jobs and lives. Even Fred has remarried and taken on guardianship of Reg.

Trixie is starting to look like a sad and left behind person.

We've been saying the same thing, Beswitched. Trixie is being portrayed as a one trick pony.

I thought last night's episode was really boring.

I’m beginning to get irritated by it now - it all feels very formulaic and completely unrealistic. It feels like a series that’s run its course.

I agree, last night’s episode was yawnsome. I didn’t really care about those four doctors. I also agree that Trixie needs some spice in her life!

I did laugh at Nurse Crane having a strop on because of the annoying doctors, though.

I wanted nice Val to ride off into the sunset with the nice doctor; they could get married, set up a GP practice somewhere nice eg one of the nice new towns and have their own nice baby.

I love the opening scenes, particularly the scene of the street with the ship at the end of the street.

The ship at the end of the street is actually HMS Cavalier which is in Chatham dockyard and you can visit it.

That would be a nice resolution for Val, Callistemon. I’d also like to see Miss Higgins reunited with the policeman, whose heart condition has been found to be far less serious than first thought.