chickencam Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Is anyone watching this? I have read all of the books, so I was nervous about how it would be portrayed. The televison series is very well cast especially Miranda Hart as Chummy, she is exactly how I Imagined her. The series is also capturing the joy and tradgedy of the books which inturn gave a great insight into life at that time in London's East End. Last night's episode has me in floods of tears as did that section of the book when I read it, we don't realise how lucky we are now and how much our greatly maligned NHS does for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I love it, i agree we dont know how fortunate we are these days. I have been mourning the loss of Larkrise to Candleford for a while now, so feel this series may even fill the gap that was left when i lost one of my favourite programmes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I watched it for the first time last night, I've only read the first book and really enjoyed it, so I was quite excited to see they were making a TV series. I thought Miranda Hart was absolutely excellent - that's exactly how I'd pictured that character in my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Read the book, watched the first one warily (books do not often turn out well translated to the TV) and was impressed. Miranda Hart IS Chummy!!! Excellent casting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I've been watching this series and I think its the most enjoyable programme I'm watching at the moment. I love Miranda's character, so clumsy and sweet. DD watched with me last night and really enjoyed it too. I love seeing the babies too. My mum had read the book, and said that Chummy is just how she'd imagained her. I've downloaded the book and can't wait to read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 I am glad that others are enjoying this too It has been cast so well. The books are well worth reading, the later ones cover slum clearance and how it broke down the East End communities, and life in the workhouseses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Sorry, but I just don't "get" Miranda Hart - I know she has won every award there is and indeed other comedians I really like seem to rate her very highly, but all that slapstick/comments to camera stuff really winds me up - sorry ! (Yes, I do realise she is probably not doing this in Midwife, but just the sight of her makes my toes curl now) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 I am not a major fan of Miranda's tv show, sometimes very funny but most of the time it makes me cringe, but she is so perfect for the role of Chummy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Absolutely loving it. Miranda Hart was very endearing . What a shame that the author didn't live to see it. I haven't read any of the books ... but that is easily remedied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I haven't read any of the books, but I am absolutely loving this series. It's proper Sunday Night telly! I know what some posters mean about Miranda Hart, and would not have thought of myself as a fan, but I have to say that I've seen her in one or two things lately and I've really warmed to her, and I thought she was excellent in last night's programme. The breach baby had me sobbing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I am watching it only because I have read the first book which was excellent; it had been recommended by a friend whose mother is an original east ender. While I found the book to be an interesting social commentary and a real eye opener, I find that the TV series seems to be deviating from that slightly documentary style, which grates slightly for me. I am still going to watch the rest of the series, but had to grit my teeth watching Miranda Hart as a) I don't like comedians in any way b) I thought she was over acting which I don't like. I'm afraid that I am always disappointed when I watch a dramatisation of a book which I have enjoyed, but that's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I loved the book and reading the sequels atm. It was recommended by a man at work whose wife had read it and enjoyed it. That was a fews years back now. The series was all filmed at my work last summer, we are used to film crews as we are often used as a film location. I get used to taking tours around and bumping into sets! The trouble is I find it a bit ditracting as I find myself watching where it's being filmed all the time! But it makes me quite proud to work in such a brilliant place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I too have read and enjoyed the first 2 books and have the third downloaded ready to go. My grandmother worked with the author in her nursing days so I found out about the books that way. I was hesitant, especially when I saw Miranda Hart in the trailers because I can't stand her stuff normally. but watched anyway last week and really enjoyed it. Last night I thought Ms Hart was very good and, as others have said, she is Chummy to a T. I will be very interested to know what my grandmother made of it when I speak to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Loving it! I love the setting & the fashions though. I also loved the sewing machine Chummy used! I wonder if any of the midwives will eventually convert to nuns? I once knew a friend who couldn't ride a bike. She was very ' Chummy'. So it tickled me a bit - as I remember her having a go on my bike along the river in Salzburg. It was very dodgy! A lovely series. Was horrified at the poor girl having her baby taken away from her! Blimey it all went on didn't it? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Love it - trained in East End in the 80's and the people were lovely. I have found memories of my time there however it was changing for the worse when Ieft in the 90's. It was filmed round here - at least the convent bits were. It clashes with Wild at heart so off to watch on BBC I player thingy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I am loving this too. I liked Miranda Hart. I agree with an earlier poster that sometimes her tv stuff makes me cringe but I still quite like it. What I don't like is her when she is a stand-in on radio 2. I have been really interested in the conditions and the idea of nuns as midwives! My mum went up to Scotland in 1960 when she was expecting me as that was where my dad was working. She was so fed up living with her inlaws in Wales that she decided to stay up there with him and had little choice over choice of care. It was either the Salvation Army or some Carmelite nuns!! She chose the nuns (as an Irish Catholic) but says with hindsight that it was a mistake Interestingly ( for an Irish Catholic) I am an only child Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 i worked with nuns in a hospice - like nurses you get good and bad. I also nursed a fair few in the East End - many of them were lovely. I have a couple now in general practice who are nice. A few vicars too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I started watching this last Sunday and really liked the characters - not realising it was based on real life. The cake nun makes me laugh, she is just so sweet. I wasn't sure about Miranda being in it, as although I love her in real life (as in in interviews and other things like that) I didn't really like the OTT slapstick of her programme. But, actually, I really like her character and I think she plays it really well. It was sad to hear that the author of the book didn't live to see how it turned out as a tv programme, but I thought it was lovely she asked Miranda to play the role she is playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Just got book today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 One of my colleagues was a Nonnatus Midwife - she's had a few stories to tell about Sister Monica Joan!!!!! I can't watch it as since Christopher was born i'm just too emotional! I love the books though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I have read the books and am enjoying the programme. It is easy to watch (and knit at the same time). I think Miranda is definitely Chummy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 They mentioned it on the One Show last night, I'll watch it on i player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 There is a piece in the Mail today from the book - I have got book but saving for when I can sit and chill and have a really good read. I think Miranda was good - I've not watched her on TV- wonder if shes playing herself. i trained with a few nurses like that - All jolly fun etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickweed Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I am reading a similar book at the moment. It's called "Bread, Jam, and a Borrowed Pram" by Dot May Dunn. The author qualified as a health visitor in the 1950s and started a job that took her the back streets of Birmingham. I grew up in 1950s Birmingham and most of my family came from those sort of areas, so I am really enjoying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 I will look out for that one, I love books which give an insight into the lives of real people from other periods of history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
