Idea for new parenting advice TV show based on Mumsnet Talk - your thoughts/input needed

or your children's schoolmates, more to the point?

Totally agree with Aitch et al regarding anonymity.

How can you be honest (or exaggerate for comedy effect or indeed for sympathy) when your MIL or child's teacher or child could be watching you say it?

i just think that the anonymity is what lets people cut loose and be super-frank... there is no way that anyone could come out with some of the stuff on here and not look like a total bitch when packaged into 5 minutes. imo.

One thread on the programme could work in a similar to several newspaper columns I've seen recently - where a correspondent's problem is outlined in some detail in the first programme and then in the next programme a cross-section of responses from readers/viewers and experts are given (even if they vary wildly in how to resolve the problem).

I think there should be a stickied thread for us to post on so we know that what we write might get used (or not), and NOT lurk everywhere using whatever you like. I guess you could ask a poster on other threads if you can use their post if some-one says something pertinent.
I agree, with not putting MNers on tv, unless they are professionals in the subject matter (perhaps).
Unless this is broadcast 8 pm plus you will lose MN as it will have to be more sanitised. And we like a good swear, as well as being able to put the stark truth as opposed to being fluffy and kid -friendly 'just in case'

TBH the more I think about it the less I think it can be done. Good luck!

I think you need to seriously consider animation for the parts of the programme that require anonymity, a bit like 'Creature Comforts' where the voices are real opinions from real humans, but the visuals are animated characters. I should imagine that type of sophisticated animation would be expensive, but something simpler would work just as well. The example that springs to mind is the advert for that price comparison site (Confused.com?) with the blue stick people dancing around.

I think that would be preferable to having a shadowy head in a darkened room, which producers seem to use a lot for interviewing rape victims etc.

I also wondered if you are planning to keep the whole programme fairly lighthearted, featuring nothing heavier than fussy eaters, sleep problems etc., or are you planning to delve deeper into eating disorders, mental problems, challenges of disability etc., or even tackle very distressing issues such as the death of a child etc.?

Hi, I'm working with Ros to develop this programme idea further. As Justine said, we're still at a very early stage, so it's great to get your input on what you think will/won't work.

I wanted to try and answer a couple of the questions that have been raised already. In terms of the format of the show, we're thinking it would be a peaktime programme rather than daytime or early evening, so as Ros said we're not really looking at a panel show. LisMcA brought up Embarrassing Bodies, which although it's a totally different kind of programme, is a good example in that it has multiple stories across the hour, some of which are followed in lots of detail, and others which are smaller. And we're definitely thinking that we would have more than one 'issue' in each programme.

In terms of the range of parenting problems it would cover, our current plan is that we'd want to feature everything from pregnancy and babies through to teenagers. Thanks to those of you who have already made suggestions about the kinds of subject matters you'd want to see discussed, and we'd love to hear any more ideas.

A key part of this is that we want to get away from the more traditional TV concept, where a parenting expert visits family/expert gives advice/problem is magically fixed. We want to make a programme which represents the fact there are a huge range of parents from all walks of life who all have different views and different advice, and an individual can hear this advice and than make their own choice as to what they do.

I also completely take on board your comments about making sure any programme represents the fact that the discussions on MN are intelligent, witty, irreverent and often not explicitly about parenting. As mumapillar said, we've spent a long time reading Mumsnet Talk, and part of what attracts us to this idea is seeing so many of the funny, insightful and honest stories people tell on the site about their experences. I understand some of the natural concerns that a programme might portray a kind of 'Daily Mail' image of Mumsnet, but I assure you that what we're interested in is showing a large range of intelligent and articulate mums, all with their own perspectives and opinions, talking openly about the realities of bringing up children, and sharing their real-world advice with families who are going through similar problems.

Which obviously brings me to another issue some of you have brought up, which is anonymity. I think this is something Ros and I need to think about further, as quite a lot of you have said a big part of the appeal of the site is you can say what you like because it's anonymous. At the same time, I think it would be a quite frustrating programme to watch if you can't see any of the people giving their advice, and I'm not sure that dramatising or animating it would be quite right either. We'll think about this further and get back to you, but my gut instinct is you'd want to see real people giving their advice.

Sorry, this has accidentally turned into a bit of an essay! Please do keep your comments/questions coming, your thoughts are really helpful for us in formulating what might (or might not) work.

Thanks

I thought Hagsnet was a suburb in Berkshire

Or may terrify you if you are under 40...

You may find that Hagsnet puts you off!

Hi BecauseI'mWorthIt,

Thanks for your reply. I have only been a member of Mumsnet for a couple of weeks, but I have been 'lurking' for a while so I do have some idea of what it's like - though I am sure there is still lots to learn. And I'm actually not a mum. I'd love to be one... but no such luck yet! Prior to this project, a lot of my time has been spent in the 'relationships' threads.

I am referring to 'mums' because, at the moment, this is a parenting series - but you never know, it may develop into looking at broader issues once we get going. Our plan is to look at a issues affecting parents of children of all ages, from newborns to teens. And if there are dads and grandparents interested in getting involved we'd be very interested in including them too - apologies for not including them in my previous post.

And you're right - there is more than the occasional witty anecdote on here - the level of humour is one of the things that has got me hooked on this site and is something we really want to bring out in the series.

I'm off to check out the Hagsnet thread - thanks for the tip!!

TVAM - I'm not so sure they will really know what MN is about, to be honest. Like Aitch says, unless they've been here 'properly' their view will be based on what they think they know/what they've read in the press. And we know how accurate that is!

exactly mn roll call of most often dissed discussed can present
posh spice
gwynnie paltrow
princess twinkletits turner
kerry iceland
denise tits outen
myleene nae class
queen kate

I think celebs mentioned on here all the time should be invited to do a slot.
Mylene of course
Matthew Wright
Kerry Katona
etc

heheheh.

Arf at "getting publicity for their cackhole". Is that a veiled reference to Friday Nights Aitch?

MN will have been discussed in production companies up and down the country, mumapillar, with no guarantee that researchers know anything other than what they have read in the daily mail about us.

this place is about relationships, at heart, you can't read those relationships in an afternoon.

I don't think people need to get protective of MN...if a show gets made, then it will be done as the producers want it in the end. If there's something that makes people uncomfortable about going on a television programme then they don't have to do it.

I am sure that if the production company are not members they will have spent a LOT of time reading posts,BecauseImWorthIt. They will have a VERY good dea of what MN is about...and that's why they want to put it on the stage!

despite it being the last point in an otherwise excellent post, i think onesandwichshort drops the final grenade into this when she says that people by and large are made fools of by telly. studio lambert are a reasonably good production company but some b and b owner appearing on three in a bed at least knows that they are getting publicity for their cackhole, even if they are presented as idiots. what do mners have to gain/lose by putting themselves up for this sort of thing?

i would just remind everyone about the threads written by the mner who went on come dine with me...

denise van outen could present,shes had a mn initiation already

I'd like that actress to front it...the one from NIghtyNight....V funny and also a Mum!

some posters are big heided enough asserting they are royalty without going on tv too. no no

I was going to suggest animation to preserve anonymity, but WMMC got there first. Something like the Canadians in Southpark with their flappy heads.

Like some others, I think it sounds like a much better radio programme.

If you theme each episode then start threads on each topic you'll get the Variety-of-views element.

I'd watch it if it was presented by Tamsin Greig or Jessica Hynes. Or possibly Ruth Jones.

can you imagine the wannae-be,big heids,and i tell ye this types who'd apply to dispense advice.oh my fucking god

You NEED to include a team of "Comedy Mums" and there are a LOT of us on the circuit...both actors and writers...and it will be Half Smack the Pony and half talk show...which is what MN is in a nutshell!

disclaimer

I am not funny on MN because I spend my working life sweating over sketches and it's hard work. I can't afford to waste share material which I might otherwise get paid for!