OT: Nanny (BBC, 1981) - It's great.

[nannynick]

Sorry for the off topic (well sort of off topic) but thought this may interest anyone hunting our a last minute present for their nanny.

I got the first four episodes of Nanny through the post this morning, it's great. Alas I've heard that Series 2 and 3 are not likely to be available on DVD anytime soon (if ever) but at least Series 1 is available.

In some ways nannying has changed since Nanny was written but in other ways it has stayed the same. Still the variety of different nanny employers for example... varying expectations of employers, nannies moaning about other nannies in the park, children playing tricks on new nannies, it's all very much the same.

I'd love to get this DVD as a gift (Note to my boss - my Birthday soon ).

Have you seen this series? What did you think of it?

Aired in 1981, I was 6 years old back then... doubt I would have watched it at the time.

I enjoyed this but TBH I don't really think the job has changed much. Parents are more involved now than the traditional nanny setup which can be a good or bad thing depending on who you work for. Personally don't find the nanny character that realistic in this series. Idealistic certainly. I couldn't imagine saying half she says to any of my bosses. I'd have been fired on the spot. I thought it was a pre requisite that a nanny cannot have an opinion especially not to do with the children.

god i remember this it was fantastic!

I remember watching it when it was on - cant have been very old about 8 maybe

you got me entrigued nick,so went onto amazon (blondes is a huge fan of amazon) and found all of series one on dvd (new) for £8.19 including P&P

thats 3 discs - 514 minutes - says all 3 series

so have ordered

Tavvy - I do agree that Nanny Grey is a bit forceful with her employers but I think that's how it's meant to come across... it's as though she is able to say things that a nanny may think on occasion but not say to their employer. It isn't a documentary, so isn't meant to portray fully a nanny in the mid 1930's but is a drama based on a nanny at that time, so it can take the liberty of having the nanny speak her mind.

I've only watched the first 4 episodes... only got sent the one disc by Lovefilm. So looking forward to seeing the other two discs if they ever get sent through (or if I get the box set for my birthday).

Does anyone remember any other Nanny programmes. There was one I recall called Tears Before Bedtime (1995) - about a lady who ran a nanny agency and the nannies she placed. Some Photo's from the show

not really to the point but do any of those children need to be in pushchairs?

Blondes - there are 30 episodes in total, spread over 3 series. Acorn Media (who realised Series 1 boxset, 3 discs) according to one of the reviews on Amazon responded to an enquiry saying that there are no plans to realise Series 2 or 3. So alas for now, I think it's just Series 1, so first 10 episodes.

i must have the first 10 then

thats nearly 10hrs of viewing - i will have a square bum

lets hope they do series 2 and 3 soon

yes i rem and saw tears before bedtime

I think I can remember another nanny programme. There was a documentary series about Norland College I always wanted to see. I think they filmed it in about 2000 before they moved from Denford Park to Bath.

There was also a documentary about 7 or 8 years back about feckless rich people with dreadful marriages, who seemed to treat their uniformed antipodean nannies abysmally, sacking them instantly for using too much Dettox or the children being too fond of them, that kind of thing. I wish I could remember the title of it.

Also a friend of mine wrote a book called Nanny Knows Best about what her nanny did, and that became a series with the nanny going around people's houses and getting their kids to go to sleep and so on. Personally speaking I thought Nanny (as we all had to call her) was a bit old fashioned in the wrong way, but I suppose it takes all sorts.

Nanny Knows Best - That was Jean Smith (Obituary). VHS tape version is available from a few sellers on Amazon, broadcast in 1993. She co-wrote several books to go with the series AbeBooks: Smith, Jean
I expect I watched it at the time.

Nanny School is broadcast on Discovery occasionally. It is due to air in Asia/Pacific in Januaury See press.discovery asia. Reybridge Films produced Nanny School, short clip. Nanny School Promo
Think I've only watched a couple of episodes of this, as I don't have Sky or Cable.

Discovery have a new nanny programme - Take Home Nanny, seems very much like Nanny911.

I think I prefer the drama type ones, such as Nanny and Tears Before Bedtime, rather than the Fly On The Wall style. It's not as though we want to see how it really is... we know how it really is, as we are nannies or employers of nannies. I like the way on Nanny, Nanny Grey speaks her mind. You wouldn't get that in a documentary, as the nanny would be sacked fairly quickly!

I just watched Birkeley Square on you tube. It was aired in the 1980s and was based in the early 1900's. Very good period drama about nanny's and their families. Nannying sure has changed though.

Presume you mean Berkeley Square - looks good.

Ooo thanks for reminding me of Berkeley Square! I really enjoyed that series and have just ordered it off Amazon for under £10!!

\is it the one with Wendy Craig? I loved that programme as a child.

Yes, that's the one. I watched it all on youtube, sadly, that's about 10 hours worth. But I couldn't stop watching it and found it really easy to watch.

ive seen all of nanny school - used to be on sky in morning so would set it on sky+ and then watch when kids asleep

rem berkely square - not sure if i have seen it

Oh Berkeley Square was good. Became a bit addicted to it over the last few days. Just watched episode 10. Wish the BBC would make more costume drama's like that.

Oh, I remember Nanny with Wendy Craig, it was fab. Top Saturday (Sunday?) evening viewing with the whole family.

yes was on saturday nights! we all loved nanny