Call The Midwife

I qualified as a registered nurse in 1969 , so this is very much my era, but I do think the programme has sunk to saccharine levels too and perhaps it has had its day. I trained in Birmingham and remember visiting new mothers in really dreadful conditions in parts of the city, with no running water and outside toilets. So although the story line may be real, the "always happy" endings were, unfortunately not usual.

Saccharine was the word, definitely.

How many more times will Nonnatus House be ‘on the brink’, but somehow keep going?

Jenny Agutter looks not much older than when it all started, obviously the religious life helps you keep your youth.

I agree, it’s a bit too much but I actually shed a tear when Reggie was still clutching his plant under the blanket.😭

Yes I watched it
I read the book many years ago
Always thought the series was a bit "saccharine" right from the start.
Back in the 70s I was a unmarried mother, although I was living with my baby's father, who had a good job, we had our own home and money wasn't a problem.
At my first ante natal appointment the midwives couldn't have been more rude and unkind. I was immediately sent to the social worker, who didn't understand why as I didn't need her help.
My future appointments weren't pleasant. The day after my son was born a very stern matron came up to me looked into his crib and loudly asked "are you keeping this child or putting him up for adoption"

All very different from episodes shown on Call the Midwife where they show nuns and midwives to show such compassion for young unmarried mums

But it's easy viewing

I'm a big fan because there is nothing else like it, and despite the sugar as you say, there still are the grim realities of life in that part of London even in the so called swinging sixties.

My only gripe is the doctor and his 'wholesome' family. I almost thought he might be killed off to add some realism, as he seemed to be clutching his chest a lot. At least the older son was absent for the festivities.

Otherwise my eyes were wet at the birth of those babies which is always the point of the drama really.

I look forward to the new series now. I don't think I've missed an episode since the beginning!

I can't stand Dr Turner and his family and the over-acting by the doctor and his wife.

I think the whole community is run by Mrs Turner, when does she sleep 🙄

Dr. Turner will never go as his wife writes him in all the time. He's a nepo-mate.

Boz

Dr. Turner will never go as his wife writes him in all the time. He's a nepo-mate.

I liked it but characters seem to vanish and reappear. Love Reggie and his family, they are all lovely. I did wonder where are all the nuns? I counted about 3. I've got to confess I like the programme, I think it's the timescale as it takes me back to my childhood. There is so much miserable stuff on telly, at least sometimes on this programme there is happiness and hope.

Tizliz

I think the whole community is run by Mrs Turner, when does she sleep 🙄

Well at least she’s got new glasses for this series.

First time since it started that I haven’t watched it and I’ve never missed an episode until now. Such a shame as I absolutely loved it but it’s far too sugary sweet for me now.

It's gone just too far. The sickliness is just too nauseating now. I gave up on it (but not before I saw that execrable doctor had dyed his hair a most improbable colour. I won't be watching again.

I’m always amazed that the local children don’t have accents like their parents. Mum or Dad can have a “ cockney “ accent but the children are well spoken.

Nancy’s new boyfriend swearing undying love after just an evening together.

And he got invited to the Nonnatus House Christmas Dinner!

Didn't everyone lol! I think he has some dark secret too- interesting to see this one pan out.

Change of topic but just watched the first three episodes of Gavin and Stacey to see what all the fuss was about.

Is it really considered family viewing? I didn't laugh once and petrol must have been very cheap then (2007?) as it's a 200 mile trip and a 4 hour drive between Billericay and Barry Island. The scene at Paddington station was just ridiculous...

Aveline

It's gone just too far. The sickliness is just too nauseating now. I gave up on it (but not before I saw that execrable doctor had dyed his hair a most improbable colour. I won't be watching again.

I thought I'd watch it on catch-up as it wouldn't be kind to make DH sit through it; however didn't realise it was on for two nights.
It really was becoming far-fetched and too sickly sweet for me although I do like Reggie.

I’ve watched every episode but decided at the end of the last season I wouldn’t return to it as it was just becoming far too sickly sweet. But my tv box was still set to record it and I was drawn in again.

Dr Turner’s cheesy acting is nauseating. I’ll watch the next episode to see how Reggie gets on then I’ll be cancelling the series link on my tv.

I still like watching it, although the scenes of how the really poor were housed still make me cry. I can have a really good blub because I'm on my own.

Dottydots

I still like watching it, although the scenes of how the really poor were housed still make me cry. I can have a really good blub because I'm on my own.

Wht year is it up to now, Dottydots?

Most of the slums were demolished by the time of the latest episodes, I would have thought, people rehoused in New Towns.

Of course, others were rehoused in high rise flats, some of which could have become modern slums or dangerous because of the way they were built.

It's 1969 in the Christmas special. Apparently the new series will be 1970.

It’s Christmas 1969 Allira

Getting rather close to when I had my first baby, and I thought how modern and up-to-date maternity care was.

Now it’s history!

I had a baby in 1970 and MIL said the maternity unit hadn't changed one bit from when she gave birth to my husband in 1948 (4 days before NHS), no modern facilities for me.

Caught up with the second part this evening. Glad to see Reggie safely home.

Dr Turner had a fever in the midst of a flu epidemic. He went home and instead of isolating himself from his family he slept it off on the sofa. Woke with his big cheesy grin on his face to find his little girl leaning over him. He then coughed in her face and didn’t even attempt to cover his mouth 🤢