Big Fat Gypsy Ladies day... channel 4

[PharaohHound]

Just starting.

I love BFGW stuff.

Sorry :)

Watching, but not expecting to learn anything new.

I feel so sad for the little girl taking her first communion. She was such a pretty child & then they dolled her up like a drag queen :(

Not sure about this horse race on the road.

I'm mortally offended by them referring to Epsom as a horse fair

I met the previous MD of Epsom Racecourse, he said he had to budget for one generator (about £10,000) being stolen every year - they put generators up for the food stalls, funfair rides etc. One year he said two generators went missing so he popped to the local traveller site to have a word with the main man about it and the very next day one of the generators had miraculously repeated

Reappeared, not repeated

I haven't watched this episode, but I hate the series in general. I hate the way the lack of education and opportunities for women and children and the physical violence (especially towards boys) are excused as "culture".

I find it difficult to believe that limousines and bikinis and provocative dancing to pop music are part of a 200 year old tradition of first communions.

Agreed, Vivacia. I think there would be real interest in a documentary investigating how and when this 'tradition' emerged. And where, too. I was at school with quite a few Travellers growing up in Ireland, and their lives were absolutely nothing like the ones portrayed in these TV series.

I suppose part of the problem in that kind of investigation is that Travellers don't keep a lot of written records, so it's difficult to look at even the fairly recent Traveller past, because theres so little recorded. But it would be possible to talk to older Travellers, surely?

I watched it, I admire how solid the families are, how proud they are of their culture and how they come together as a community. Equally I find the attitude to young women a bit depressing.

Watched 5 minutes. Giving horses lager. Even people who agree with horse whips would find it difficult to defend the over-use of the whip in the racing scenes.

We've just been introduced to that gypsy icon... Beyonce.

(I promise to write a running commentary of my OUTRAGE).

I had to switch off after 15 mins. It was just too depressing. I think it is time Channel 4 culled this. I too would be fascinated in a documentary about traditions rather than modern interpretations. My family have Romany blood on my maternal grandmothers side - I believe her grandmother. She sadly was ashamed & never shared anything with us.

Ha, I meant "I promise not to give a running commentary".

This is just so depressing. I'd welcome a more critical documentary.