Babs

[Ineedagoodusername]

Anyone watching this?

This is much sadder than I expected!

Oh the real one can't really sing either! She still looks good though and shes definitely got something!

Havent watched it yet but samantha spiro played barbara windsor before in a TV drama about her affair with sid james. She was marvelous.

Barbara is 80 in August

I really liked it!

When Barbara comforted her younger self - oh Lord. How I want to do that now I am older.

She doesn't look almost 80.

LineysRun, I felt the same.

Jaime Winston 's hair looked ridiculous, like a fluffy football plonked on her head. I know BW had a bouffant hairstyle in those days, but it didn't look as silly and unreal as that.

Jaime Winstone was very badly cast. She looked a good ten years older than the role demanded and was huge in stature in comparison. Her prominent jaw doesn't lend well to that role either.

I felt sorry for her, because she's probably a good actress, but the casting was shite.

It didn't help that the wigs were totally unconvincing either.

Samantha Spiro was spot on.

It's a shame that the character of her mother wasn't developed more. Was she a pushy, stage mum? Was she struggling as a single parent? Were there any other children?

I agree about Jaime Winstone (I don't like her anyway) She looked dumpy, she's nowhere near pretty enough to play Barbara and her rendition of 'Where Do Little Birds Go To' was horrible (I've got the original cast recording of Fings Ain't What They Used To Be, and Barbara's version is lovely)
Samantha Spiro was great though, and I liked the script.

I found the theatrical format refreshing but I agree that Jaime Winstone was badly miscast as the younger BW. I also didn't like the real Babs singing at the end - it felt distracting and reminded me I'd just watched an hagiography. The story was very rushed (I've read her book and a six-part series could have been made of her colourful and eventful life).

Loved Samantha Spiro, though, and for more of her as Babs you can watch her in Cor Blimey on Youtube.

If caught this part way in and enjoyed it though Babs is not my favourite actress.
I must get her book now.

Just watching on IPlayer. DH and I both hate the format but sticking with it to see her story