'This programme needs an explanatory leaflet!'
The BBC’s one-off drama on the life of Barbara Windsor had all the makings of a hit.
A national treasure and telly legend, the Eastenders and Carry On actress isn’t short on fans. But with a total of four actresses playing Barbara throughout the different stages of her life and a ‘confusing’ script, Babs was criticised for being ‘disjointed’ and ‘all over the place’.
Even before it aired, the Guardian called it ‘oddly structured’ and ‘presented in a way that’s occasionally laboured’. And when the show did hit screens on Sunday night, viewers took to twitter to express their disappointment….
I felt that could've been so much better. Maybe I'm comparing it to the Cilla biopic. Narrative all over the place. Such a shame. #Babs
— Lewis Pringle (@lewispringle) May 7, 2017
Some Barbara fans thought that Babs herself had been done a disservice…
Very disappointed by #Babs. Poor storytelling. Not even an excellent performance by Sam Spiro could save this. Dame Barbara deserved better.
— Elliot Gonzalez (@elliot_gonzalez) May 7, 2017
The drama delved into Barbara’s dark past and the struggles she faced in her personal life before her 22-year stint as Peggy Mitchell on Eastenders.
Read more…
Some scenes saw an older Babs (played by Samantha Spiro) looking back at her life as a young woman (played by Jamie Winstone).
But it was this ‘slapdash’ and ‘confusing’ approach to storytelling that lost the respect of viewers, who compared the drama to a bizarre rendition of A Christmas Carol.
This Barbara Windsor meets Christmas Carol affair is quite the carry on. #babs
— Ruth M (@ruthmatthew) May 7, 2017
While others even went as far to call it ‘car crash’ TV…
What a car crash, no need to panic Netflix 👹 #Babs
— Anthony Blythe (@tonyblythe66) May 7, 2017
I really wanted to like #BABS but it feels a bit clunky 😕👎🏼
— Wow Wendy (@Kellyrihan) May 7, 2017
It wasn’t all bad news though. There were some viewers who enjoyed the show…
Absolutely loving the staging and casting of #BABS – what a phenomenal story! Really enjoying it!
— Casey Jo Crooks (@Caseyjocrooks__) May 7, 2017
And Samantha Spiro received universal praise…
Doesn't Samantha Spiro have the mannerisms just right? Even the tottering tippy-toe walk #babs
— Lesley J 🐉 (@lesleyj28) May 7, 2017
So, what do you think? Did you catch Babs? Did you enjoy the show? Let us know on our social channels – @womanmagazine. Because we love hearing your thoughts!