The Real Marigold Hotel

Loved the show and thought Miriam Margoyles very amusing as usual. I thought she might turn politically confrontational when the Maharani said the poor don't mind being poor. It was also interesting to see Sylvester McCoy because outside of Dr Who I haven't seen his work so I will look forward to the next episode. Hope they remember that mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun , but elderly Brits must be more careful about the heat.

There's an interview with each of the group Here

I think Patti is ok. She's always dressed flamboyantly, so she probably doesn't own casual clothes. I doubt if she'll be able to maintain her makeup habit in that heat. It was funny when Bobby made the joke about dressing up one night (think it was Bobby).

The thing that has stuck in my mind is the discussion with the woman from my 'Royal family'. She said the people from the lowest castes accept their situation because they believe they can come back the next time as something else. I thought that came over as an excuse for an unfair system and easy for someone at the top to say.

jimorourke Sylvester is the wizard Radagast the Brown in the new Hobbit films. If you've seen any of them you might not have recognised him in his costume and makeup.

I liked Sylvester and think he could prove to be quietly amusing.

Unlike Miriam who disappointed me very much - I always thought she was quite amusing but I found her attempts (to the camera) at humour rather puerile, shouting 'look at me, how rude and naughty I can be with my toilet jokes'. The kind of 'humour' little boys go through at an early stage in their life and hopefully grow out of.

I thought Patti Boulaye came across all right - but I don't like her politics.

gillybob I agree that the caste system in India is dreadful. It is now illegal but I don't think many people complain to the police - maybe because they're afraid of repercussions. This sort of discrimination isn't "racist", though, because the people involved are of the same race.

I, like Wilma, felt some annoyance at the maharani saying that the lower castes accepted their situation. I too thought how, as someone benefitting from a discriminatory system, it was very convenient for her to believe that it was accepted to be the natural order of things. Even though some people of lower castes may accept their lowly position, that does not make it right. Hopefully, in time, these horrible attitudes and practices will fade away but I wonder how pro-active the government is in campaigning against them and in dealing severely with the perpetrators of caste discrimination.

I suppose if we look back to our own past, there was also the view that people's social position was in some way preordained, as demonstrated in the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful:

"The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them high and lowly,
And ordered their estate."

These sorts of beliefs and practices are often propped up by religions.

Watched this as I actually knew who all the celebs were!? Enjoyed it but I suppose we are seeing the best edited bits. I could certainly enjoy the accommodation and would enjoy the true Indian food. But the heat would defeat me, and the noise and crowds in the streets. Suppose you could get used to it as long as you had somewhere quieter to live. Wonder if Jan Leeming will find a rich prince for her 6th,7th or 8th husband? Good on Rosemary to do some cooking.

Pittcity - would the Indian wine be for a U3A wine group? I'm in one - good idea which might copy!
Once saw a cooking demo by Rosemary, at a country fair, (her grandchildren were there too) & she was very entertaining.

Oh and I liked the programme a lot - which of course is what the thread is about, I rather went off piste as t'were.

I watched this on catch-up earlier and really enjoyed it!
I'll definitely be watching again

Watched it last night and loved it. Dear little Wayne is trying so hard to be amusing etc but is so terribly shy! Not so sure about MM, seems a bit superior to me.

It all brought back so many lovely memories to us as we went to all except one of those places. Looking forward to the next one.

Just watched this on iPlayer and really enjoyed it. I loved the two films and it will be interesting to compare 'reality' with fiction. I thought Jan Leeming looked amazing for her age!

As far as the rich/poor divide, having lived in a country in Africa where this was rife when I was in my 20s this is very familiar. I remember being shocked at the time but it made me realise how lucky we are living where we do. I get so fed up with people moaning about this country. First world problems. Abject poverty is hard to see though.

My daughter and I were already planning a visit and now can't wait to go.
£20 a week to be waited on? Beats any residential home here.

We had no problem getting wine!

I think there is a lot of outdated ideas about India. They actually have more mobile phones pp than any other country, they really care about education and pay poor people to send their children to school, provide the uniforms and feed them. Universities are free and if you want to go to one in another country the government pays half and will loan you the other half if necessary. It is my belief that India will outperform the rest of us in a few years. Money still talks though and I suspect a bribe was paid to get us to the front of the queue at the Golden Temple.

Agree with whoever said many of them wish we hadn't left.

We had a Muslim driver on our trip and got to know him really well. He wanted the best for his children, didn't care who they married and said the caste system was no longer relevant. I found the real India had moved on a long way from the attitudes of some people I know who came over in the 1960s who seem to be stuck there. We had some good cricket banter as well as we were playing them at the time!

I suspect the programme was carefully edited to make us think things are far more divided than they are. What the Maharani failed to say (or it was edited out) is that Hindus believe they are where they are at the moment but if they live well will come back as something better.

I'm not sure if I enjoyed the programme or not ?
Wayne Sleep irritated me, MM seemed utterly overbearing and Patti is definitely a diva.

I loved the scenery and learning a little about Jaipur but otherwise it didn't do anything for me

BananaGran we have a group of friends who meet to appreciate different wines, not U3A. We are having Onion Bhajis and Raita with the Indian white and Falafel and stuffed vine leaves with an Israeli wine. Others are bringing Croatian and Austrian wines with accompanying food.

I just watched it. I thought all the women sounded a bit silly. And they need to watch their weight (Margolis and the chef woman). They look well lined up for diabetes and/or heart disease. Didn't show us Brits up in a very good light at all. The men were no better.

I think the Maharini was trying to excuse the wealth gap by saying that the poor could well come back as a higher caste. Yeah right. daft cow Silly woman.

Am I the only one who cringed when they put on their 'entertainment?'

It reminded me of 'It Ain't 'Alf Hot, Mum'

Yes, it was embarrassing, wasn't it? The audience was of course very polite, but they must have been wondering why any of them actually got paid for doing that in the UK!

As for MM declaring, loudly 'I am Professor Sprout'...

I have some Indian friends who hate visiting relatives there, they say ' too hot, too dirty, too many beggars.' Needless to say, they have lived in the UK for a number of years.

The 'entertainment' was the final straw for me merlotgran, so toe-curlingly awful I stopped watching once Wayne Sleep started tap dancing ???

Goodness knows what their hosts and family must have thought- perhaps they imagined this is what we enjoy as 'entertainment' at home ?

Heaven help us!

I've just watched the first episode and enjoyed it for what it was- just light entertainment.

India isn't somewhere I have ever wanted to go and to see the streets with their noise and chaos confirmed that for me , but I will enjoy seeing how this group get on.

MM reminds me of my mother...and that's not all good !!

Worth seeing the next episode though.

Jing surely the Maharini was explaining the Hindu belief that a life is only a step on a progression towards perfection. She was not excusing the poverty but clarifying why those who are so poor seem to accept their lot in life. If this is their religious belief, then it needs to be respected. It is a very different culture from ours, where acceptance of one's lot is not a common trait.

She was explaining the religious belief, but that doesn't change the fact that in this reincarnation she's at the top of the tree and they're at the bottom. It was a direct contrast to the tour guide actively trying to better himself and hitting brick walls. He clearly doesn't believe he should accept that his caste means he cannot improve his situation in life. I find it hard to believe he is the exception and others do not have similar ambitions.

I wondered how many of the audience at the evening of entertainment understood what was being said. If you watch what's going on in the background, not everyone is enthralled by the spectacle. I bet some just wanted to be on TV or were there for the food and drink. Some like the tour guide's family probably felt obliged to attend. Of course, then there's always the matter of tipping at end of the stay. I'm sure the staff and the tour guide rely on getting good tips, so will keep smiling through it all.

Am rethinking my opinion on MM, also find Patti vain !!!

Looking forward to watching this. I've always admired Miriam M. and always wanted to visit India.