Call the midwife

[TwinklyFawn]

The call the midwife christmas special is on bbc 1 in 2 parts. The first part will be shown on christmas day at 20:00. The second part will be shown at 19:30 on boxing day. Series 14 will start on 5th January. I am suprised that it has not been renamed as the doctor Turner show.

I actually like all the McGann brothers as actors and thought the romance storyline with Shelagh was touching and believable. The problem for me is that they are used far too much at times and the mansplaining is very annoying, although I know some of it is to make medical points clear. It's a writing problem rather than a "them" problem I think. He's better when not being the All Wise and All Knowing Medic.

Maybe another doctor at the surgery permanently would help, perhaps a woman (they certainly existed in the 60s/70s)

I agree it's not an actor or character issue it's a "the wife wants her husband on screen as much as physically possible even when it's not suitable" issue

Yes, there's that to it

I also love the mcgann brothers (upper hand was fab) and actually this is a Sunday night drama. After a long weekend I want to disengage brain and have everything explained so I have zero problem with that family. This is meant to be light entertainment not requiring much brain power.

He was okay at the start but i dislike him now.

@Snowmenschilliballs yes, it's that indulgence that is so irritating. It has lead to a mansplaining and ridiculous character like a sort of World Health Organisation one man band. I've nothing against the actor but the writing is like finger nails down a blackboard at times. I know a couple of people who have been in it and would not disagree with you or @Uricon2 but would never say so publicly as it's a successful series (and a very reliable bit of work).

Yes to the McGann brothers. I saw Stephen in the West End 30+ years ago in Blood Brothers, as one of the leads. He was great.
The story of Dr Turner and Shelagh when she was a nun was really good and well played by both. Unfortunately, they both grate a bit now.

Shelagh annoys me more than Dr Turner but it’s the two together that create critical smug, especially when the kids are involved too. I liked their Doctor/nun thing very much though.

I'm a week behind but don't mind spoilers! I wonder what's going to happen with Lucille and Cyril, definitely seems like they are setting up a story with the nurse is it Rosalind?

As he's coming back, I'd say definitely.

I saw him in Blood Brothers too!

There has been the odd good episode in the later series but the earlier series were better. I miss the grit it use to have. Now i am lucky if i stay awake when it is on.

Me too. Either Bristol or Bath 1983/84.

Blood Brothers is one of my favourite musicals. Saw it 3 times in the West End in the 80s, including the original with Con O'Neill and Kiki Dee.

I love Con O'Neill!

I saw it 3 times in West End as well. Caroline Quentin played Mrs lyons,

I've seen 9 or 10 performances of Blood Brothers from Con and Kiki to the tour last year. I have two unrelated colleagues called Johnstone and I always refer to them as the Johnstone twins.

On the one hand, I'm glad that the Turners are allowed to have a happy marriage. So many soaps or long-running series gratuitously introduce problems (e.g. an affair) into a previously happy marriage to break it up, purely to create some drama - it seems to me like sloppy writing. Sometimes it seems as if no-one is allowed to have a happy marriage without something ruining it.

(Obviously this does happen to apparently happy marriages in real life, but it's the overuse of this dramatic device that irritates me.)

But on the other hand, the Turners are so saccharine that it gets on my nerves. And the focus on Dr Turner reduces the focus on the midwives, which is where it used to be, and should be.

I did like their love story back in series 2. I don't dislike them now, but like the series as a whole, I think they've got too saccharine.

The series used to be grittier, but it was still enjoyable as a Sunday evening drama series that was ultimately wholesome, even if it did show some very sad stories of life in the late 50s and early 60s.

Exactly. I use to cry far more in the earlier series. Now it doesn't make me cry much.

Here's a croaky cheese intro again...

Public health lecture on Measles and GP payment incentives this week. Do we think the episode will be pro choice or anti abortion?

Is that Rachel Tucker wanting an abortion?

I can't believe doctor turner can't fix a washing machine in two minutes between patients. Surely he can do everything....

I can't believe St Turner doesn't know how to go to Laundrette. He was coming across like a stereotypical useless mumsnet dh there

And the lady there is so helpful. If he just turned up she would have helped.

Would have been normal at the time to send the kids off on errands, am sure they could have managed asking for a service wash too.

It's deffo Rachel Tucker, was surprised to see her on TV.

I like the new nun.