Call the midwife

[NimbleHiker]

The Christmas special of call the midwife is on bbc 1 in 2 parts again. The first part is on at 20:15 on Christmas day and the second part is on at 20:30 on boxing day. I am not a fan of the Christmas special been in 2 parts. I wonder how doctor Turner and his simpering wife will save the world.

I loved it. We watched both parts last night. It was ridiculous, cheesy and dramatic. I loved the cross dressing party boys and had a huge sob at the lovely old Jewish guy and May's brother. I haven't missed an episode & don't want it to end.

It gets me through the winter ...I know it's a bit predictable but cosy a lot of the time.

It's not as good as when they were using the original stories but i keep watching.

Have the original stories run out?

I always wondered whether the woman in the 1st series who was Spanish and had 14 children had either recognised herself or her children had.

They had a gloss of heartwarming narrative over it but it was truly grim AF

The original stories ran out a long time ago.

The original books by Jennifer Worth are a good read and are far grittier than the TV version:
Call the Midwife / The Midwife
(2002)

Shadows of the Workhouse
(2005)

Farewell to the East End
(2009)

From what I remember of excerpts I've read, she'd be at risk of the Kate Clanchy cancellation treatment if she were alive for the way she described some of her Cockernee charges, inc phonetic description of their accents. "Gor bliiiimmini!"

The books are the memoirs of a woman from a middle class background encountering poverty she had never imagined in the 1950s. She expressed herself in the way that came naturally to her. She was never deliberately offensive or condescending.

I don't think Kate Clanchy deserved what happened to her either. Cancel culture is poison.

Sid and Ana Webster allegedly, and they had 19 children.

Sorry meant to quote @Lalgarh

And rewatching the early episodes after such a long period of time, it has really struck me how much the no nonsense and very funny Sister Evangelina added to the mix. I think they definitely need a current version of her as an antidote.

I'm very sceptical of the Cyril gets a new girlfriend storyline. He is supposed to be a church leader. There's no way under 1960s norms he would have been able to even divorce let alone pick up with someone else and keep his position. (I know he could legally divorce/date whoever he wished but not without stepping down from the church role).

I cried too. The episode with mrs Jenkins is my favourite christmas special.

I loved the books.

Loving the 70s men’s hairstyles

it was good and cheesy at the same time

and Dr Turner saves the day again

liked the Jewish chap, so moving

I loved Cyril dancing. At least he didn't dress up as a nun. A step too far!

I watched last night and it was everything I feared it would be.
The Hong Kong story was ridiculous.
The party was pointless and unfunny.
Queenie and Mr Fischer were the only elements that were true to the spirit of the programme.
I said in a previous post that Poplar itself is a vital aspect and the further they stray from Poplar, the less enjoyable it is (for me).
Dd and I were also reminiscing about Sister Evangelina and how her depth of knowledge of the community and its history brought so much to the programme.
They tried to do that with Sister Monica Joan and Mr Fischer but took it too far. The ancient (and previously memory-impaired) Sister MJ miraculously had total recall of a delivery 7 decades prior and had met Mr Fischer in that very room!
None of the depth and subtlety of the brilliant episode about Mrs Jenkins.
Likewise Queenie's story was surface level at best. Such a shame.

I enjoyed Sister Monica Joan's wisdom on how to do breech. It is a skill that has been lost. My PFB was breech and as soon as that became apparent I was told it must be a C section. I read the original CTM books while pregnant and knew a natural breech birth was possible but no one would risk it.

Well they believe in heaven. Surely that classes as the spirit world

There was an ama a few years ago with a nurse who cared for dying patients. A lot of patients were aware of 'those who came back' so presumably the nuns would have seen this ? Also there was a discussion of opening windows to let the spirit escape.

I enjoyed the books

my family came from not far. Away and my father was born in 1940, though not at home - he was born in hospital. Maybe due to the war, I’m not sure. Often wondered how my nan got to the hospital as they didn’t drive or have a car - my. Guess is the bus 🤷‍♀️

Was that when the actress was pregnant/ on maternity leave?

Also, I think the actor who plays her husband got a better offer so isn’t to be seen again, or not for a while.

I went to hospital on the train in 1980. New Cross to Guys.

I think he was born at Dulwich hospital