Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Original poster

Is there a Call the Midwife thread?

906 replies

Oodbrain · 18/01/2015 20:39

The poor little boySad

OP posts:
BOFster · 09/02/2015 15:27

Yes, I can't see that the BBC would have a "good" character smoke at all, if they weren't going to make the point that it's bad for you. I've got a feeling that there are guidelines about being seen to endorse smoking on TV, but I might be misremembering.

BOFster · 09/02/2015 15:30

Yes, they do seem to have policies on it.

Mrsjayy · 09/02/2015 15:34

Loads of people smoke on tv they even had ashtrays set out In the baby clinic and even shelagh has a sneaky evening puff. I don't think that is advocating smoking just showing people smoking but I do think they will have him with a smoking relating illness I think that is where it is going.

Mrsjayy · 09/02/2015 15:37

I meant endorsing smoking. If you notice if you watch soaps it is usually middle to elderly characters smoke none of the young folk do

BOFster · 09/02/2015 15:42

His smoking seems particularly prominent, though, and with him being a doctor I suppose it could be taken as tacit endorsement. So they would have to justify it editorially, ie have him get his comeuppance, so to speak.

Mrsjayy · 09/02/2015 16:00

Aye it was just to draw attention to the fact he is a smoker

SoupDragon · 09/02/2015 16:18

Before, it was just in in the background - he was smoking as was appropriate for the time and no attention was drawn to it, it just happened.

ILovedYouYesterday · 09/02/2015 16:49

I remember in the first series, he was stood in the garden having a fag with one of the new dads while the midwives sorted the mum out Grin

Mrsjayy · 09/02/2015 17:00

Nobody has mentioned so it is probably just me but anybody think Timothy Turner a pain in the arseslightly irritating he does me in

ShelaghTurner · 09/02/2015 17:01

The smoking is purely set dressing. Stephen McGann wrote a piece on it when they were filming the first series. They thought a lot about whether to have him smoking or not and for various reasons decided to go ahead with it. A lot of the pregnant women have been shown smoking too.

The sharing a cigarette with Shelagh thing is just an illustration of their more comfortable relationship. They did it a couple of times last series but it was always her asking, now he just offers it. Relationship has evolved, that's all.

The first series and part of the second were taken from Jennifer Worth's books. All the storylines since have been from other midwives of the time.

Pixel · 09/02/2015 18:54

I was born in 1944 and I don't think girls had hairstyle like Trixie's in the late 50s/early 60s.

I must admit I was looking at Trixie's hair and thinking nice as it is I didn't think it was quite right for the time. My mum was born in 1945 and I've seen lots of photos of her in the sixties with her hair back-combed to make it fuller. I remember her wearing rollers as well.

There is a definite whiff of BBC PC opinion this series!

In his job it would be easy caught and his finger could be damaged.

This happened to my dad so he never had a wedding ring when I was a child, just a scar where he was very lucky not to lose his finger. He'd just been helping to load a van up in the loading bay at work and banged on the doors at the back to let the driver know he could go, and his wedding ring got caught and twisted round and went into his finger. Had to be cut off (the ring not the finger!).

Pixel · 09/02/2015 18:57

Mrsjayy yes he annoys me too, but seeing your post I've just twigged. He's Timmy Turner! (Fairly Odd Parents is one of my favourite cartoons Grin.)

SoupDragon · 09/02/2015 19:10

The smoking is purely set dressing.

That might have been true for earlier series but I think it has gone beyond that. What was the point of finding his ashtray in the filing other than to draw more attention to the smoking? If it isn't something more then it is very clunky and badly done.

They did the same with Trixie's drinking IMO.

Mrsjayy · 09/02/2015 19:36

Oh aye timmy turner Grin

ShelaghTurner · 09/02/2015 19:45

They did it last series too, one comment in particular about his ashtray. It's always been there.

ShelaghTurner · 09/02/2015 19:45

That's not to say it won't be an issue in the future. I'm not a mind reader, just a fan and can only go on what's been said to date.

SauvignonBlanche · 09/02/2015 20:11

I'm worried about Dr Turner now. Hmm

breward · 09/02/2015 21:03

Just ordered Letters to the midwife book. Thanks for the recommendation.

SoupDragon · 10/02/2015 08:24

Oh, I'm not a mid reader either :) It just seems to be sticking out like a sore thumb this time round. Trixie's drinking has always been there too but that was brought to the forefront this time too.

I hope it does turn out to be nothing though!

iklboo · 10/02/2015 09:22

They may have well have a big flashing arrow with 'plot device' written on it & a siren going 'AWOOGAH!!' sometimes. It's a teeny bit patronising. I'd prefer more subtle build up - or to be almost completely misdirected. It's not kids' TV.

iklboo · 10/02/2015 09:22

May AS well.....

ShelaghTurner · 10/02/2015 09:29

Yes Trixie's drinking was a surprise although, as you say, the signs have always been there. And I might well be too busy admiring the good dr's forearms and floppy hair Blush to notice the signs this series in particular (there seems less emphasis on his smoking to me) but I've been assured that he's safe this year! Who knows where it'll go in future though. There's definitely another series coming and after that, we'll see...

ppeatfruit · 10/02/2015 09:52

ShelaghTurner The problem with alcohol is it creeps up on you. I remember reading a good medical book in which it said "Alcohol is no respecter of motives". One or two every other day can quickly get out of control.

Mrsjayy · 10/02/2015 10:13

Trixie has always had a cheeky vermouth at night and a cigarette so I can see why its started to become an issue

Mrsjayy · 10/02/2015 10:15

I have always had a thing for stephen mcgann sigh I hope Dr Turner is going to be ok