Call the Midwife tonight

Female director, all women writers. It shows.

It was fantastic wasn't it? Fabulously written and acted: the confrontation between the two was superbly handled I thought.

I know I'm beating a well worn drum but I do marvel that Call the Midwife is so often dismissed as 'cosy' Sunday night viewing. Feminism by stealth is exactly right: it's quietly, powerfully, truthfully subversive.

I think the thing that struck me the mostm was that the abortionist genuinely believed she was helping women as much as Val does, and did it for the women, rather than for money etc.

Very thought provoking that.

That it turned out to be who it was (avoiding spoilers for those yet to see it) doing the abortions was a masterstroke

Wasn't it just! She's marvellous in that kind of role and my reaction was that I should have known there was a reason for her to be playing the role.

I grew up when Abortion was illegal and I can recall my mum and a few of our neighbours rallying around when one of the neighbours became pregnant weeks after having a baby. They had her sitting in a bath drinking gin and whilst i can see how it was never going to work they were at least trying to help another woman out of a difficult situation.

That was such a powerful episode, I mean all of the episodes are, but that one was utterly incredible.

It turned into a remarkable episode, just as we in our house were remarking that it was a bit of a 'bitty' (bitty as in lots of bits, rather than the adult breastfeeder on Little Britain) one - and then it all pulled together brilliantly AND completed the story arc they began in the Xmas episode and earlier in this series, about illegal/backstreet abortion.

That it turned out to be who it was (avoiding spoilers for those yet to see it) doing the abortions was a masterstroke.

I love how call the midwife doesn't shy away from biological reality too, plus the focus on women and children of course.

The BBC have backed down pretty sharpish and will now be providing the information.
I don't watch every episode of Call The Midwife - it sometimes gets a bit too much like a public information film - but I feel like cheering every time I do watch it. As several reviewers have said, the show puts women (and children, too, I might add) firmly at the centre. Yes, it really is 'feminism by stealth'!

The BBC are an absolute disgrace.

I think the BBC have back tracked from their position that abortion is contentious, they got a lot of stick for it
I think it's an excellent series, feminism by stealth and will stand us in good stead next time they come for our reproductive rights