A STAR from Call the Midwife put the show’s announcer on blast for their word choice when introducing a recent episode.
Stephen McGann, who is best known for playing Dr Patrick Turner on the medical drama, hit out at the show being referred to as “a healthy dose of nostalgia” when it deals with serious topics that still affect people today.
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He took to social media to point out that although the BBC programme is set in the past, a lot of the scenes won’t evoke happy memories for everyone.
The actor continued by adding a list of the heavier subjects Call the Midwife covers, such as “domestic abuse, child abandonment, the familial impact of terminal illness, and the psychological burden of serious debt”.
A recent storyline in particular seemed to have moved viewers.
Many people flocked to the comments to mention how heartbroken they had been to see Gladys informed she has cancer that was caused by asbestos.
One person shared: “We were annoyed by the introduction. My Father died from an asbestos related cancer. It wasn’t a dose of nostalgia for me.
“Thank you for highlighting the dreadful impact of exposure to it. You reminded me that he used to wash and change immediately when he came home.”
Another hit out at the show’s intro, saying: “It was a devastating episode, not nostalgic at all. I read about people getting cancer from the dust on their father’s uniforms and how horrified they were to find out that they effectively poisoned their own children unknowingly.”
A third agreed: “Because it’s set in the past, people sometimes think it’s going to be sentimental . It has warmth & shows kind people, but it has dealt with some serious issues.”
One person was left overwhelmed with rage after hearing the show called nostalgic , complaining: “I raised my eyebrows and gnashed my teeth at that.”