Bridget Jones

[funtimefrank]

Did anyone watch the retrospective yesterday? I was planning to iplayer later as it got a good write up In the Guardian and didn't sound too gushy

My thoughts exactly! Didnt watch it, but Guardian piece makes it sound great

It was really interesting. Quite funny

I enjoyed it. Made me feel very nostalgic. Would recommend.

Really really enjoyed it, very nostalgic for the 90s and great to have the cast back

I hadn’t heard about it and just put it on and absolutely loved it. Lots of really interesting interviews with clever feminists. I nearly posted on the feminism board about it actually, would definitely recommend watching on catch-up if you can.

Sorry to be clear - I hadn’t heard about the documentary. Of course I know Bridge!

It was so good. Found it by accident this morning. Loved it.

Think I'll read the book again

Really enjoyed it.
Both Hugh Grant and Colin Firth look better now than then

I watched it
It was a nice easy watch with interview with Helen Fielding plus Renee, Colin & Hugh
Definitely worth a watch in iPlayer
I remember reading the first book so vividly when it first came out, I was 22

It surprised me. So interesting and lots of good discussion surrounding feminism. Helen is great.

Colin Firth looks so gorgeous now! Renee also looked really fab. Hugh was great.

It’s was really good , also enjoyed the Julia Donaldson programme , but it was very sad too that someone who has written such wonderful books should have such tragic events in her life.
Hope the BBC repeat the Judith Kerr documentary as well.

@PhoebeSnow

It’s was really good , also enjoyed the Julia Donaldson programme , but it was very sad too that someone who has written such wonderful books should have such tragic events in her life. Hope the BBC repeat the Judith Kerr documentary as well.

Agree about the Julia Donaldson programme. So tragic what happened to her eldest son. Didn't know she spoke French 😳 But she looks good for age 72!

One of the better Xmas documentaries.

It was good.

It was so good. It tackled some of the thorny issues around feminism that has caused some criticism to be levelled at it. I had no idea so much inspiration came from her own life.

It was a great documentary. TBH Germaine Greer captured my own view on Bridget: that it was not clear why or how she captured Mark Darcy's heart, as she was mostly just annoying! It was therefore really interesting to hear from women who found Bridget to be something of a feminist icon. I was also fascinated to hear about Helen Fielding's time at Oxford and then her career, and how much she drew from her own life in creating Bridget. I have to say, I never read or watched any of the Bridget series beyond Bridget Jones Diary, as I never felt the need; and I suspect that has not changed!

I often wondered why Helen gave her the name Bridget. It's such an Irish name.
Not many Bridgets in Ireland now though as it's considered old fashioned and a saint's name which is unfashionable. Years ago you couldn't move for Marys, Annes, Thereses, Bridgets and Bernadettes.
Jones is a quintessentially English surname.

Jones is a quintessentially English surname.
It's a Welsh surname.

I really enjoyed it.

Oops @ILoveShula
I don't live in the UK and thought it was English, like Smith.

It is from Siôn's son, Siôn being welsh for John.
Many quintessentially British surnames are from a certain area. There's a website called named named.publicprofiler.org/ that shows where the names are more common, and it usually gives an indication of where the name is from.

Welsh surnames tend to be a first name preceded by a B (vowel) or P (consonant) or appended with an s.
Names like Bowen, Pugh, Williams, or Roberts.

A bit like Scottish surnames are often Mc or Mac then a first name or a firstname+son or +ston.

Many quintessentially British surnames are of norman origin.

Bridget Jones does sound like a name for a girl with Irish and Welsh ancestry.

I enjoyed watching it. I was about 20 when I read the book. I remember reading it in one sitting in my student accommodation when I was supposed to be writing an essay. Just couldn't put it down. I loved the book but Bridget being in her early thirties seemed so old. Now I'm forty bloody three!! I would love to reread it, preferably my original copy but haven't a clue where it is. Possibly in my parent's loft somewhere!