Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

Call The Midwife

(57 Posts)
Clawdy Fri 27-Dec-24 08:09:51

Anyone watch the two episodes? A bit saccharine, and a poor Dickensian family, and Trixie back unexpectedly........Some very improbable moments but I carried on watching!

escaped Sat 28-Dec-24 08:19:13

cornergran that's very interesting.
I read a book (by???) about moving from East London in the 60s, and the author said the same as you.
Families were desperate for better housing, but when they moved out, they felt homesick for their old tight-knit neighbourhoods, which had been broken up. There was something soecual about community spirit in the East End. The problem with the new places was that people came from all over London, and someone from say Vauxhall might just as well have come from Birmingham for all the people had in common.

Calendargirl Sat 28-Dec-24 07:45:08

My sister had her first baby in 1972. She wasn’t having a home birth, but for some reason a midwife/health visitor wanted to know what her home was like.

Her GP, the traditional family type one who knew all his patients and actually insisted on delivering ‘his’ mothers in the hospital, commented that “You could eat your dinner off her kitchen floor!”

Nowadays, such talk would offend her human rights or similar.

cornergran Sat 28-Dec-24 01:56:15

I still enjoy it although yes, it is very sweet and somewhat over acted. Mr C tolerates the acting as some scenes trigger memories.

When we married in January 1969 we lived in a tiny terrace on the edge of East London, one open fire for heating, no bathroom and an outside toilet. Warm, friendly and kind neighbours, a very safe feel. We loved it and were comfortable although there were folk just a street away living in the sort of desperate conditions portrayed in the last episode.

We knew it was a clearance area and we’d soon be re-housed, sadly the community feel didn’t move with us to a concrete tower block. Our flat was modern, clean and comfortable - with a bathroom and heating - it was also a lonely and sometimes scary place to be.

Although we moved away to Suffolk in Summer 1970 it will be interesting to see how East London is portrayed and if the concrete tower blocks appear.

When our first child arrived in 1973 I was allowed to have the home birth I wanted as we were deemed to be clean enough! I guess the bathroom had something to do with it. What is odd looking back is I wasn’t at all offended at our home being checked for cleanliness although my parents were incensed. Different times.

nanna8 Sat 28-Dec-24 01:03:13

I used to love this show but it has just gone on too long and they seem to be scraping the barrel a bit now. Same with Heartbeat and a few others. Maybe they should quit whilst they are ahead ?

Grammaretto Fri 27-Dec-24 23:44:25

Ah well 1970s is my era. It will be interesting. I was told I should have a home birth as we had our own bathroom! This was in Kent, 1972

Gingster Fri 27-Dec-24 23:38:21

YesDr Turner is a real turnoff but I still like to watch it.
He’s a dreadful actor!

Grannynannywanny Fri 27-Dec-24 23:20:07

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 🤢

Tizliz Fri 27-Dec-24 17:55:20

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.

Calendargirl Fri 27-Dec-24 17:43:27

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!

Clawdy Fri 27-Dec-24 17:42:20

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

Allira Fri 27-Dec-24 16:58:26

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.

Dottydots Fri 27-Dec-24 16:32:45

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.

Grannynannywanny Fri 27-Dec-24 16:31:45

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.

Allira Fri 27-Dec-24 16:14:30

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.

keepingquiet Fri 27-Dec-24 15:56:07

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...

Calendargirl Fri 27-Dec-24 14:35:05

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

And he got invited to the Nonnatus House Christmas Dinner!

Kittye Fri 27-Dec-24 13:54:46

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.

Aveline Fri 27-Dec-24 13:50:59

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.

Jewelle Fri 27-Dec-24 13:49:10

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.

J52 Fri 27-Dec-24 13:31:26

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.

Homestead62 Fri 27-Dec-24 11:26:18

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.

Sparklefizz Fri 27-Dec-24 11:01:49

Boz

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

grin

Boz Fri 27-Dec-24 10:25:55

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

Tizliz Fri 27-Dec-24 09:41:45

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

Sparklefizz Fri 27-Dec-24 09:30:48

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