Call the midwife

Missed it last night as it clashed with 'Vera'. Will watch on catch up later.

Lucca

I’ll get my tin hat but was a bit fed up and tired last night an found myself giving this programme another chance.

I think it’s dreadful. The doctor and wife are nauseatingly twee. That blonde nurse speaks in a ridiculous accent.
It is beyond sentimental and sugary and some of the acting is worse than your average village am dram !

And I quite like tear jerk programmes too.

Sorry fans of CTM

I agree with everything you've said Lucca
I think CTM has had its day, to be honest.

Thank you sparklefizz

Yes, unless it picks up a good bit I would have to sadly agree that CTM should be axed.
The Christmas special was lack lustre and this series has been a bit dull so far. Sr Hilda seems to be a wasted character who could liven the series up.

Sr Hilda seems to be a wasted character who could liven the series up.

Yes, Sister Hilda and Nurse Crane are great. I am fed up with the pantomime Buckles, the twee Turners, Trixie's silly voice etc etc

I also found the cancer storyline quite weak. The whole focus was on the young woman not being able to have children. But surely a diagnosis like that, especially 50 years ago, would have caused huge alarm, fear and upset with absolutely no guarantee that the patient would survive. None of that was really shown. We just got a happy 'oh the operation will definitely work and then I'm going to be a hairdresser' storyline.
It would have been so much grittier in the earlier series.

It would have been so much grittier in the earlier series.
That's exactly it, Beswitched, the grit is somehow missing from the story lines.

And there's not enough proper East End locations like the dirty docks for example. Even the set is tired and boring.

It's also not very believable that the Church would just hand over a cottage to Miss Millícent. Surely it wouldn't still be lying empty several years after Barbara's death and Tom's departure, and why would a working woman capable of finding and renting her own place be considered particularly in need?

I agree that it is a bit treacly, and the GP and his wife are really irritating, but it is gentle, non challenging and rather a nice programme. Also shoots down the 'good old days' brigade too! We were both scratching as the scabies plotline unfolded

Another gripe that has just occurred to me. Miss Millicent grumbled about the bed linen at Nonnatus House, the thread count wasn’t up to her standard apparently.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but back in 1967, were we even aware of thread count in our bed sheets?

Not in our house anyhow. A good flannelette sheet was what counted, not how high the thread count was!

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Same here Calendargirl. I had never heard of a thread count until the 80s.

Or those ‘nice ‘ easy wash/dry 100% nylon sheets....Sticky and nasty, ugh. !

I noticed the thread count remark too but like you it’s a newish thing fir me. Definitely not around in 1967.

First it was poly cotton upgraded to 100% cotton, but no, never knew about thread count til this century really.

Maybe she was lucky enough to have lovely stretchy brushed nylon sheets?

I watch it as a cosy, feel good Sunday night programme that highlights social conditions and medical problems of the era, without being too gritty or gory. I don't want it to be an accurate portrayal of the time, just something to look forward to watching, with characters that I feel comfortable with.

I suppose it’s easy to criticise this series, but I still enjoy almost every minute. I think it’s the social history I enjoy. I remember the times they have portrayed, although from a different viewpoint.

I don’t see anything annoying about Shelagh Turner, though her husband’s exaggerated facial expressions irritate me. I don’t find Trixie’s accent annoying either - I’ve never even noticed it. She is a particular type of person from that era. I find most of the characters interesting.

I enjoyed this week’s episode because of the Monkees song ? at the beginning but I’m finding the social distancing very distracting. It’s just become a familiar background noise on a Sunday night.
The thread count comment did grate. It was definitely flannelette all the way for us, or cotton, which lasted years because as they wore out in the middle they were sewn edge to edge and then re-hemmed!

Sheets we had were brushed nylon also stripy flannelette. We also had fibre glass curtains I remember.

Yes GrandmaSue same in our house.

It was definitely flannelette all the way for us, or cotton, which lasted years because as they wore out in the middle they were sewn edge to edge and then re-hemmed!

I had to laugh at Mrs Fred Buckles hats what was the dresser thinking? The blue one she wore at her meeting was nearly falling off. Also they should have given the cottage to the Irish nurse to live in with her daughter. I remember dancing to "Puppet on a string" in the garden lovely memories.

Am I the only one who thought the pregnant singer would marry her manager? I thought at first he was only interested in making money from her, but then he seemed really concerned for her. Surprised she got to 36 weeks and no one noticed she was pregnant.

Felt sorry for poor Sister Hilda who was overlooked again. First that wedding cake, now the centenary commemoration. Of course, the saintly Sheila stepped in at a moment’s notice. How does she do it? Perfect wife, mother to 3, stepmother to 1, ex nun, midwife, practice nurse, immaculate house, cook, gardener, friend and listening ear to all.

And her hair and uniform always look pristine.

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Calendargirl AND....that continuous smile fixed on her face - just makes me want to smack her to take it off.

I suspect Helen George was pregnant during the current series. I noticed most of her shots were from the bust upwards, but the signs were there.

It was nice to see a gritty story last night with a realistic ending.

Sr Julienne isn't as likable as she used to be. She was very hurtful towards Sr Hilda last night. Surely there could have been a more tactful way of getting Sheila involved.

I wonder do the residents of Poplar get fed up with the Turner children being centre stage at every play and celebration? They don't even live in Poplar or go to school there.

Helen George had her second baby a few weeks ago. I wonder will she leave the series, and Trixie will head off into the sunset with Matthew? I'd hate to see her go, but it's about time she moved out of Nonnatus House.