It makes compulsive viewing. Even my wife enjoyed it, and she is sick to death of my obsession with WWII!
I like Alex and Peter but I'm afraid that Ruth Goodman now has the same effect on me as fingernails scraping down a blackboard. Like some other TV presenters she seems increasingly to be lapsing into self-parody, cackling and screeching like one of the weird sisters. I know from conversations with other fans of the previous series that I'm not alone in this. A friend of mine, a keen historian with a previously positive view of Ruth Goodman, went to see her give a talk. She was singularly unimpressed. Ruth had not prepared anything and my friend described her approach as 'I'm a very important TV star, just ask me questions'. By the way, it's actually the fourth 'farm' series, not the third, as the original article states. I haven't met many people who've seen the original, 'Tales From the Green Valley', made in 2005, about the early Stuart period. This featured two additional presenters, Stuart Peachey and Chloe Spencer. Peter Ginn is known by his nickname of 'Fonz' throughout the series. It's well worth getting on DVD. Does anyone remember the rather similar programme 'The Wartime Kitchen and Garden' made in 1993? This in itself was a follow-up to the charming 'Victorian Kitchen Garden', with its marvellously evocative them tune. The 'Mrs Tiggywinkle' female star of both series, Ruth Mott, died recently. I shall never forget her showing how to make brawn from a pig's head. I much preferred her to the other Ruth!
I would like to see the first series, set in the time of the Stuarts. Ruth Goodman IS annoying, but don't be like my Mother-in-law, who now refuses to watch any of the excellent programs just because Ruth is in them. Mark, The Victorian Kitchen Garden was brilliant, Both my wife and I loved Ruth Mott, and the tall gardener who brought her the produce, whose name escapes me.
Harry Dodson was the gardener. The award-winning theme tune is still played on Classic FM. I'd forgotten how many sequels the original 'Victorian Kitchen Garden' spawned:three, including the wartime series. Sadly, that's the only one which is apparently not available on DVD, although I think that you can see it on Youtube.
fantastic forgotten story of the black land army girl, I had never heard of her at all and it was such a huge national story at the time! disappointed to see Ruth's daughter get involved (just a pet hate)
Seems to be getting better and better. So much on tonight I didn't know. I actually thought everything was pretty much rationed! Weird seeing the bread take the red dye out of the petrol (if it was in fact petrol, H&S and all that).
Ruth and Peter will be on The Alan Titchmarsh Show tomorrow (18th Sept) from 3pm on ITV 1. They'll be talking all about Wartime Farm and making and mending things live on the show.
The BBC History Series is just presenting The Wartime Farm, based on a farm near Southampton / Portsmouth, an area I knew well. It has given a good presentation of the pressure to produce more food, the problems of rationing, the need to prepare accommodation and supplies for evacuees, and even anti-invasion preparations and monitoring of incoming aircraft. It still feels like 'a production', but nonetheless covers a lot of ground. Edna
Edna, This is the subject of a thread already on the forum. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/books-films-tv-radio/47525-wartime-farm.html Regards Tom
Operation Starfish is the second thing I never knew about WW2 that the series has taught me! That is what is so good about this forum. There is always something new to learn. Regards Tom
Edna, This is the subject of a thread already on the forum. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/books-films-tv-radio/47525-wartime-farm.html Regards Tom Sorry, I didn't find it when I searched - probably used the wrong wording. Edna
As a lad growing up in wartime Britain my father and his family (those that weren't in the services) lived on a farm in the north. They used to swap the produce they grew with those in town for what they needed, as well as giving away extra to those that couldn't afford fresh veges.
