Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be a bit uneasy at the concept of new E4 show "my mad fat diary?"

64 replies

wannabedomesticgoddess · 12/01/2013 23:56

If the trailers are anything to go by, its about a 16 year old who is FAT and feels she doesnt fit in or isnt normal. Oh and did I mention shes FAT.

WTAF has being fat got to do with it. Plenty of people feel like they dont fit in. Especially teenagers. And since when is being fat "mad"?

I really do not understand what message they are trying to put across. And yes I probably should watch it before I comment, but the trailers are making me cross. Since when is it ok to promote that fat people should try to be more normal?

And I hate the word FAT. AIBU? Or do other people feel the same?

OP posts:
MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 13/01/2013 00:23

It is mentioned in the first few sentences of the advert.

LadyBeagleEyes · 13/01/2013 00:23

I think this show seems to be controversial in the trailers, but I'm hoping it could be one of those groundbreaking type series that Channel 4 do seem to do so brilliantly, and can show issues that no other broadcaster can be arsed to tackle.
I'm thinking Queer as Folk and the early episodes of Shameless.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/01/2013 00:25

"Just dont watch it."

Or come on to a chat forum and find out others opinions and educate myself? No?

OP posts:
frootshoots · 13/01/2013 00:25

There's a shortened trailer where it isn't mentioned, but for a while after it was first aired the words nut house were definitely used in it, "I'm 16, 16 stone and have just spent 6 months in a nut house" or something along those lines.

To be fair I didn't know it was based on true events until DH of all people told me a couple of weeks ago. Probably still wouldn't know if he hasn't mentioned it, not from the trailer alone.

WorraLiberty · 13/01/2013 00:28

I was thinking the same LBE and 'Skins' sprang to mind too...or at least the earlier series'.

BreconBeBuggered · 13/01/2013 00:47

Love the book it's based on and don't understand why the adaptation has been set in the 90s. Being a bigger teenager was that bit rarer in the 80s when the diaries were written, which would have made the writer feel more conspicuous amongst her slimmer friends. I'll be interested to see why the era has been changed. The reason for the 'madness' isn't spelt our explicitly in the book.

I hope I'll like it. I usually watch book adaptations moaning that they're not right all the way through. I've already started with 'Those aren't their names!'

Alisvolatpropiis · 13/01/2013 01:20

YABU - as other's have said they are based on the diaries of a real writer and fat doesn't equal mad. She spent time in a psychiatric hospital as is clearly stated in the longer advert.

Also pom the girl is clearly overweight. Nothin to do with media manipulation of perceptions,it's a fact that she is over weight. She's playing someone who is meant to be 16 stone! She'd have to close to that,they can hardly trot out a an 8 stone waif to play the part can they? Confused

Not sure who mentioned the names but I thought the very much not names of the average teens in the 1990's.

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/01/2013 01:40

I have been thinking, and tbh, the fact that its an adaption of diaries doesnt make the trailers any less insulting or worrying.

If someone came on here and started telling everyone they had been in a nuthouse and they are fat and have to try to act normal, people would be genuinely worried about them. It wouldnt be seen as tongue in cheek at all.

Why is it acceptable on E4?

OP posts:
cheddarcheeselover · 13/01/2013 01:47

I think we are meant to be worried about her! Even in th worst situations there can always be found comedy though.

Booyhoo · 13/01/2013 01:55

actually the ad uses the word 'madhouse' not nuthouse.

OP there are i think 3 trailers for this ad and i agree that seeing just 1 of them left me a bit Confused about what the point of the show was until i had seen all 3 trailers.

i dont think teh show looks any good at all but i haven't read the book and intend to watch it to see what it is all about.

as an aside, i think e4 have been lurking on MN. a few weeks ago i posted on a thread saying that it looked rubbish and that the line saying "i wnat to find out if there really are any cool people in lincolnshire" was stupid. i have noticed the absence of this trailer on e4 since then! Grin

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/01/2013 01:58

:o I would love to know if they do lurk!

OP posts:
Booyhoo · 13/01/2013 01:59

oh wannabe, i just realised you are the OP. i'm not stalking you! honest! Grin

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/01/2013 02:01

Haha I didnt even realise :o

OP posts:
LadyBeagleEyes · 13/01/2013 02:06

Maybe we should all just wait till the programme is aired before we judge, eh?

Booyhoo · 13/01/2013 02:10

i think it's ok to judge the trailers as we have seen those. the trailers dont give me much hope for the show. but as i said, i intend to watch it. but yes, the trailers i judge as shit.

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/01/2013 02:17

They have released trailers with, presumably, the message they want to put out. So I will judge them.

And like I said before, a person shouldnt have to know the programme is a true story in order to understand the trailers.

OP posts:
thatisall · 13/01/2013 02:31

Trust me the hurl who plays the main character is a strong woman who would make a great role model for teens everywhere, regardless of her weight.
The tale is one of a girl who struggles through her teens and spends time in an institution. I believe the 'fat' situation is something she feels upon often, this being part of the title.
Perhaps people should watch a show before they deem it distasteful no? Or are we just banning the word fat or the right to use ones weight as a form of comedy? It's been down for years!!

TinyDancingHoofer · 13/01/2013 02:35

Isn't the point that she isn't mad or fat? But that is how a lot of young girls see themselves.

Booyhoo · 13/01/2013 02:42

i recognise the girl but i cant think what i've seen her in. does anyone know what else she has acted in?

cheddarcheeselover · 13/01/2013 02:42

or maybe she's mad and fat but it doesn't matter, she's still awesome!
who knows, we'll have to watch and find out Grin

thatisall · 13/01/2013 02:45

She's a Glaswegian stand up comic

Loveweekends10 · 13/01/2013 04:56

And ugly Betty was....

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/01/2013 06:41

I hated the concept ot Ugly Betty too. America Fererra is vvere ugly.

OP posts:
Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/01/2013 06:42

Is beautiful rather. Dont know what went on there.

OP posts:
LovesBeingWokenEveryNight · 13/01/2013 06:52

Firstly you are missing out totally that fact she's been in hospital hence the mad bit, she's a larger girl hence the fat.

My impression is she comes out tries to adjust and finds some friends and they have some adventures.

What you are completely missing is that you are not the target audience. I actually have high hopes for this one. How often is the 'fat' one or the 'mad' one the main character? It's diary based so totally from her perspective. Tbh I think you are judging this one by its cover as it were. There are plenty of trailers that I thought have looked crap and ended up enjoying when I've eventually watched them (and crap when they looked good)