London 'Family' Houses on TV

[PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog]

Non Londoner, living outside of London here. DH parents live in London in a non posh (downright scruffy when they moved in, normal family DH Mum Dr recep, dad a cabby, older parents, 4 kids in 2 double and box room 3bed) former outside London area, which has been poshed up a bit (coffee shops, high street stores etc have replaced the 'old functional' shops. Yet, when I watch tv shows like Outnumbered, Motherland, My Family, everyone seems to live in massive houses with gardens in places like Chiswick and Wimbledon, am I right in thinking that this would be impossible for non-millionaires?

My neck of the woods is not really shown on TV, with the exception of Cutting it and Coronation Street, but when it is, it seems a bit more realistic. Why is London always presented in such an unrealistic way for 'normal families'? or am I wrong? Do families live like that more frequently than I realise?

To clarify, are you asking if TV programmes depict things in a way that doesn't reflect the average real life?

Yes, it just seems so pronounced in relation to London depictions, it's weird to me.

Particularly in relation to normal ie not glamourous families IYSWIM

Off the top of my head the three shows you've mentioned are very 'middle-class'. I can't remember the characters in them or what they do for jobs to know whether the salary reflects the house. Eastenders (and Corrie, and all soaps for that matter) is much more unrealistic, people being able to pay London mortgages on 4/5 bedroom houses while selling old tat on a market stall.

I always think those locations are seen as normal by the TV directors whose families and friends live in similar, bought 20+ years ago when they might have been affordable to those on DINKY wages.

TV is aspirational. Those characters in the shows will likely be on a very good wage.
And if not, it’s entirely possible the show is stretching the truth of that character living there…
Those areas exist in London, just like they do in other cities… people living in those houses will have had a substantial deposit , prob with help from parents or an inheritance, and they will likely have a huge mortgage. If they don’t ever pay off the mortgage, which is possible, they can plan to downsize when older as the property will have gone up in value.

I don't know if the particular TV programmes you mentioned are families like your husband's though, are they? Aren't the parents things like doctors? Not millionaires, but parts of Chiswick and Wimbledon would be affordable for professionals.

That said, there are a lot of insane depictions of unattainable London living in films and TV (Paddington, Bridget Jones, any Richard Curtis film...).

I agree, in Outnumbered they were living in a home well outside what a family on a teacher's salary would afford

I think showing the reality - a massive mortgage and a 2 bedroom flat, a council property in zone 5 or a terraced house with ££££££+ careers might detract from the narrative? Would like to see it attempted though

I see, I think Corrie is fairly realistic, because they are not on the edge of the city or with a tramstop or anything. Whereas Eastenders would be commutable no? Just seems odd, especially Outnumbered. Dad is a teacher and mum a part time office manager, previously SAHP

It's true the houses are stupidly large for normal income London families, but the whole TV crew has to squeeze in somehow and it just wouldn't be possible in the average London terrace.

Coronation Street is a set though, shows like Outnumbered are filmed in houses rented for the purpose.

It probably was just about realistic 10 or so years ago and TV hasn’t caught up to the reality of two high earners buying a two bed flat in Tooting.

@Maybeonedayeventually that's what I was thinking, why not try it? I would find it much more interesting. All I think when I watch things now is 'If I were living in London, I would feel like a failure and very anxious on the basis of this'

Coronation Street is a set though, shows like Outnumbered are filmed in houses rented for the purpose.

Yes, but lots of areas around Manc. Liverpool look exactly like that, outside of spiffed up suburbs, so you could rent them if they did not have a set.

Only fools & horses more realistic?

I agree and it’s noticeable how much it’s changed. I’m a big fan of ‘2.4 Children’ which was set in Chiswick. They were a SE plumber and the wife worked in a cake shop (later a SE caterer).

It just wouldn’t happen now.

Here is a little comparison: www.simondunn.me.uk/?p=10879

That said, there are a lot of insane depictions of unattainable London living in films and TV (Paddington, Bridget Jones, any Richard Curtis film...).

Yeah the Paddington family must be loaded

Are TV shows like outnumbered filmed in actual houses and therefore need a certain size house for logistics of lighting, cameras etc?

They weren't just on a teachers salary though- the mum worked as a PA too. Doing that for a top London executive would pay well.

Well, given that Coronation Street is set in several houses and has been for, what, 60 years? it probably makes economic sense to have a set .

And sets don't have 4 walls so all the crew and cameras can fit in easily whereas those small 2 or 3 bed terraces with the rooms intact could not physically accommodate all the people needed to film a scene.

They choose big houses as it's easier to film in plus it looks good on telly.

Definitely. That's why it was so relatable to people I think. We all had a granny with those psychedelic curtains or grew up with them ourselves!

They weren't just on a teachers salary though- the mum worked as a PA too. Doing that for a top London executive would pay well.

Sue on outnumber didn't work as a PA for an executive, she was an office manager at a company in her best job and was a SAHP until series 4

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor it can’t be due to filming restraints - lots of TV is filmed in small flats if needed (eg peep show).

the issue is the tv show wants you to know instantly the family is middle class, but the projection of what that is is no longer the reality.

They choose big houses as it's easier to film in plus it looks good on telly.

This would be true of any tv show though, so why only London based ones? Why not use a set to show something more realistic?