A Cream Cracker under the Settee - Thora Hird - Talking Heads

[@janetdavies9056]

Such different times. I’m 75 and just back from cat sitting in Paris. Cocktails last night and I’m off to Den Haag next week. I remember when we all thought 75 was old

[@ginahearn1177]

I have been trying to watch this for weeks, but my late mother said, after watching it when it was on television, that she felt exactly the same and I won't be able to watch it without crying my eyes out, I know.

[@moiskis]

Decades of experience, all right there. It makes you humble watching such a brilliant actress at work. Watching this should be mandatory in all theatre schools.

[@xxxxDuke]

Mandatory in all schools, even. I fear we'll never know the likes of Doris and WIlfred again.

[@harenrussel]

Simplistic nostalgia of the human condition. I'm Niuean, yet I've known women of my culture identical. This speaks to me from my old people who have gone ahead of me ❤️ Thank you.

[@TheMrfrankclark]

Everything about this is flawless. A true work of art,

[@fionabarrie9697]

it has been so long since I saw this series, probably about 20 years now. The pure brilliance of writing and performance always blew me away. i forgot how nearly every monologue left me in tears. So beautiful! Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@brendaspencer-yb9gj]

So agree!

[@lawrencemarsland498]

A snowy afternoon at home alone, a little sad, and then this wonderful piece of writing and divine acting. This is art!

[@helenekanefsky4274]

Wonderful

[@julz63]

Alan Bennett and Thora Hird equals EXCELLENCE ❤️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@stancrouch9642]

Wow, wasn't expecting that. Mrs. Hird is at the top of her craft in this performance. I really enjoyed it. Well Done Mrs. Hird. R.I.P.

[@ObsoleteOddity]

Great actress. Thank you Thora Hird - thank you Alan Bennet - thank you Ken Doh. I don't really understand why people would thumb this down....unless they were expecting a David Byrne interview.

[@HROM1908]

Because they don't have a clue what they are watching.

[@twaz5786]

‘Allo, Oddie! Nice to see you in the comments here. This is such a brilliant performance of brilliant writing.

Damn...I was expecting a David Byrne interview.......

[@lesleymcshanemitchell9651]

maybe to painfull to watch To near home

[@garthhunt7238]

Flawless Thora Hird!❤️

[@linengray]

What a wonderful acting tour de force.

[@Timbear45]

Pure joy....Thora Hird & Allan Bennett. = SUBLIME ❤❤❤

[@jacqui2651]

Brilliant but so very sad,. I just want to bring Doris home. Thanks for uploading.

[@janetpowell6693]

Brilliant and tragic... Society's attitude to aging is demonstrated so poignantly....set against a lady of fixed and limiting beliefs and deep, lasting pain.... To a mistress of her craft...thank you Thora ....

[@annchristine47]

A masterpiece!Total magic!Actresses like Thora Hird are few and far between.

[@patriciamackinlay6495]

excellent alas all of us will get old may we have the strength of Thora Hird.

[@plauditecives]

Thank you, Ken, for making all of these available. I often describe them to people, and my enthusiasm for them.

[@TheRetro60s]

Beautifully done and immensely touching.

[@willworkforwages]

I first saw Thora Hird in a televised production of "Memento Mori" and have been a fan ever since. Thank you for posting this.

[@andrepells7825]

Wow! What a performance! Timeless..this totally made me cry(esp as an RN who lost her stubborn mom a couple years ago) This perfectly portrays the pride,stubbornness and sometimes very rigid behaviors of “The Best Generation”. Thanks much to whoever posted this!

[@xr6lad]

100%. I have a 78 year old mum and we have just lost my father/her husband (hit by a car) and while she is still very able she is getting slow and frail and stubborn . I’ve said she should sell the house, buy a small villa unit in a retirement community to keep her independence but it also provides a place where people will look out for her…..but no. Despite her not being able to look after the home as well and me being too far. She won’t consider it. And she certainly won’t move in with me.

[@Lyfs-Awsumm]

She turned down the help when it came. I guess she felt she rather die than end up in Stafford House.

[@idrissaebrahim3261]

I watched it several times and still find brilliant each time, the writing is phenomenal her acting it extraordinary

[@portiahenry3756]

Classic writing and acting . Beautiful .

[@annazaman9657]

"daughters are best. They don't migrate" heartbreaking

[@susankemble-jones3021]

mine has moved away but promises to look after me . we are making plans now

[@lesleymcshanemitchell9651]

idis sad to say Wouldnt do it if l had my time again

[@idrissaebrahim3261]

A class act, it's so real

[@harenrussel]

Brilliant performance 👏👏👍💐🌹 Sad, funny beautiful x thank you so much. Xxx

[@dilly1863]

Very movingly sad & true for elderly persons who hold onto their sense of independence.

[@lawrencejhutchinson]

thora always seemed to be on TV when I was growing up. Loved her in the series in loving memory, and she was wonderful in the Moods episode of Dinnerladies!

[@karenbond2964]

Fantastic.

[@reneekennedy716]

Wonderful acting! Thanks for sharing.

[@jamiecovfefe6323]

heartbreaking , really touched me an im only halfway through

[@charlesdavis7087]

A brilliant comment on the human conditions. Well done all around.

[@nancyyen1]

I binge watched really great acting and well written 👍🇺🇸👍👍👀

[@mauracarty8487]

Everything about this is great

[@caroltrendall63]

Still brilliant after all these years

[@sommy38]

omg here it is!!! astonishing... o thank you for this

[@deborahjeffers5060]

Now that's good acting. You don't get that anymore.

[@DistantCousin]

Quite interesting how times have changed - a 75 year old woman would not be presented like this any more - Thora's clothes and hair are more akin to a 90 year old now! :)

[@r.h.7338]

Great acting but so very sad.

[@puppetoz]

Once again Thora goes beyond acting....

[@desmondjames9312]

This is one of my favorites. I recite this to friends, word for word, (in my mind) exactly the same... I love it. It reminds me of my grandmother. Perfect Bennett.

[@brucewilliams8714]

Spellbinding: writing and acting.

[@bowler8]

I always liked this one

[@xr6lad]

Reminds me of my mum. I have a 78 year old mum and we have just lost my father/her husband (hit by a car) and while she is still very able she is getting slow and frail and stubborn . I’ve said she should sell the house, buy a small villa unit in a retirement community to keep her independence but it also provides a place where people will look out for her…..but no. Despite her not being able to look after the home as well and me being too far. She won’t consider it. Give up her ‘home’. And she certainly won’t move in with me.

[@sommy38]

ken doh i love you very much....xxx blessings

[@julz63]

This Talking Heads must be the saddest one of all 😢😢😢😢😢

[@lindablanthorn7787]

Just perfect in its sadness..!

[@chrisclark9307]

Excellent actress. Poignant, sad, but it happens!

[@AlbertMeza]

A brilliant performance but I must say, it did make me sad, though.

[@TheNzfroggy]

23 people gave this a thumbs down. 23 people obviously do not appreciate such an amazing actress as Thora Hird.

[@chrisdavies3572]

23 people have no idea about old age and loneliness.

[@nickwyatt9498]

I don’t actually see any thumbs down. Have they been excised? In any case, 100 thumbs up from me for this definitive Thora Hird performance.

[@panchisoto22]

I can no longer watch this story whole after the passing of my dear old grandfather, it's just too similar to situations he went through quite a few times in old age because of his insistence in living alone. Painful but necessary message.

[@meirwise1107]

Alan Benett performed by Dame Thora Hird.....does it get any better?

[@jon_co]

Brilliant!

[@edithgeiszt1942]

Dear,wonderful Thora.but so sad,with her remembrances and loneliness.she madre mi cry.....and that look in her eyes at the end!!!!!a masterpiece of script and acting.

[@brianeduardo1234]

It is amazing the acting - but also in the days this was made 75 was much older than it is today... varies of course from person to person but then 75 was considered very old

[@candyclews4047]

"I don't think they're married, 'alf of them" - makes one laff out loud. Bless Thora Hird RIP

[@spenardjazzfest3167]

Produced 1 year before I moved to the UK... god I had so much catching up to do and I never even knew ...

[@somyod2u]

'Alan Bennett - Names' - well worth five minutes of your time.

[@annazaman9657]

It's sadly ironic that Thora herself died in a nursing home

No, no Anna...as lomg as we remember Thora, she will LIVE........And the more we remember, the more we will realise just whjat a talented woman she was.......

[@Lyfs-Awsumm]

Why, None of her children could take her in their homes?

[@Lyfs-Awsumm]

Didn't she have children?

[@itsdebs]

She’s one of the generation who cared about what “other people” thought about her ability to keep her house clean. The sad thing was, other people were too busy to even notice or care.

[@DarrenBonJovi]

Epic acting

[@alexfernandohuenten1374]

amazing.

[@michele8208]

The reality of old age

[@dmisso42]

I'm glad I'm not one of this generation! I was born 1942. At 81 I still do two or three hours of mowing jobs every day, cook my own meals every day. No junk food, some weights,. I am not getting old! No one is shunting me off to a Home to live with geriatrics like this one.

[@r1342060]

'Do not go gentle into that good night.' Why ever not?

[@reasonrestored9116]

The Talking Heads that Dame Thora did have not been revisited in the latest series (remade as others have). I wonder if they couldn’t think who to cast. After all, Thora was indeed amazing. I’d like to see Anne Reid do them.

[@bmccarthy3333]

The number 3 of Talking Heads was done during Covid lockdown- they, from what I read, did not want to subject an older woman to negative health possibilities. All three versions are amazing. Alan Bennett- a universal treasure. When he goes, I will cry.

[@emerobroin2577]

Love God and close all gates.

[@brockmeeks1695]

I see why she beat them all for the bafta.

[@sojourningteddybear6838]

Is it to be assumed that she died at the end?

[@peterj403]

Not nice to grow old!

[@peterj403]

True.

[@BillieJolene1]

Can't help but wonder when she used the bathroom. This is sad and scary. Yoga. For strength AND balance. So you don't end up in this situation.

[@Mel-se4lc]

OMG I was born the day she died

[@katherenewedic8076]

reminds me of Catherine Tate's Nan

[@lindadillon3061]

😭

[@yellowpete79]

Michael Caine in a wig!

[@lauracoleman5071]

alan bennett on dementia

[@christinemartin63]

Sure ... yes ... "we have made our bed and we must lie in it." But ... sometimes ... God/Fate/the Universe makes our bed for us. And let me tell you it/they are terrible bed-makers and couldn't even get jobs as maids in a cheap, two-bit flophouse.