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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have found the radio 2 Children in Need auction this week quite unbearable?

42 replies

ImagineJL · 15/11/2013 10:11

All this week Chris Evans has been doing the annual Children in Need auction for "prizes that money can't buy", such as meals cooked by celebrity chefs, formula 1 racing in Monaco etc.

On the whole, these prizes are eventually given for totally crazy money. Over a million for the racing I believe, and tens of thousands for other stuff.

I think it's fantastic that such a worthy cause gets a huge donation, and I'm all in favour of the super-rich parting with a bit of cash for Children in Need. BUT I find it really depressing and also infuriating to listen to.

Firstly, it is something that the vast majority if the population can't get involved in. After all, what's the point in someone stretching themselves and bidding a few grand on something they really want, when a multi millionaire is going to rummage down the back of the settee and find 100k more?!

And secondly, it just reminds me of what a topsy-turvy world we live in. We're in a recession, people are worried about heating their homes this winter, charities across the country are struggling all the time, and yet there are people out there who have this kind of crazy money at their disposal, just for frivolous treats. I can't help thinking that the nation's finances are being managed wrongly.

And don't get me started on charities being left to fund things that should really be the responsibility of the government and tax payers.

Chris Evans said the other day "come on everyone, if you've had a good year and want to put something back in, get bidding". What planet is he on? Practically the entire country would have to combine their collective "good years" to come anywhere close to these bids!

I'm probably just being grumpy and bitter, and I guess ultimately the end justifies the means. But I've avoided the radio 2 breakfast show this week as a result. (but Capital fm's listening figures have increased, so I guess someone's benefitted!)

OP posts:

jeanmiguelfangio · 15/11/2013 10:15

I agree with you, I just think that sometimes these kind of things should be available to all, some kind of lottery, everyone put in a pound sort of thing, but I suppose that would take longer or be more work.
I understand why they do them, 5 mornings and thousands of pounds but I do hate the come on people, bid bid thing when probably 95% of people couldn't even come close

Tulip26 · 15/11/2013 10:15

I totally agree. Sick of hearing it. He's been rattling on for almost my entire commute about these prizes all week. I dip in and out but that's all he seems to have talked about. Sick of hearing it, I don't have a spare fiver to give this close to Christmas.

LittleChiefRunnyCustard · 15/11/2013 10:16

YABU. I had to turn it off for exactly those reasons.

PennySillin · 15/11/2013 10:19

I love Radio 2 and listen most days but I agree. These amazing experiences are not accessible to most people, the money they go for is extraordinary and while that is fantastic for Children in Need, I don't begrudge them a penny, it doesn't make great listening! The mega rich get to do mega rich things [yawn] Yes I am envious

totty12mum · 15/11/2013 10:21

I think it's great that he raises so much money for people who really need it no matter how it's done, would you rather he didn't bother and the children in need charities were £4 million down?

Nanny0gg · 15/11/2013 10:22

I'm probably just being grumpy and bitter, and I guess ultimately the end justifies the means..

No, I don't think you are. We're in a difficult place atm, and where I haven't enjoyed these auctions in previous years, this year it has been unbearable to listen to. (it's poor programming too).

Absolutely. Where I have (mostly) thought that if you earn the money, you spend it as you see fit, when I read that footballers are on £100,000 + per week and 7 year-olds are carrying designer handbags (sorry, D Mail), and those poor souls in the Philippines have lost everything with worse possibly to come, I despair, I truly do.

PennySillin · 15/11/2013 10:22

I don't think anyone is saying that totty, just saying it doesn't make great radio for some people.

totty12mum · 15/11/2013 10:23

Listen to something else for a while, there's lots of choice....

PennySillin · 15/11/2013 10:24

That's exactly what the OP is saying she's done.......and me! Absolute Radio here, I think she went for Capital

Lorelailovesluke · 15/11/2013 10:27

Third thread I have seen about this

Yabu

SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots · 15/11/2013 10:30

it doesnt bother me at all. so what if other people can afford it? none of my business what they do with their money.
and he did have one where it was a £2.50 text entry to win it.

I was a bit like this this morning when someone pledged £36,000 for him to play a song, but you know, hey ho.

feebeecat · 15/11/2013 10:39

Totally agree. It's great that he is using his connections to raise money for a very worthwhile cause, but the amounts involved are just obscene and don't really apply to the vast majority of us.

It struck me last year as I was heading into work, worrying about how we were going to rejuggle finances that month, that he was raving on about how wonderful some bloke was, paying huge amounts for some golf game or other. Amounts involved, would have paid off my mortgage and yet he was spending it on an afternoon out!! Again, good for him/wonderful cause etc,etc but how many of his listenership actually fall into that category and how many of us are actually out in the real world?!

Blanket ban on him this year, will probably return when all the madness is over!!

DreamingofSummer · 15/11/2013 10:43

It was for exactly this reason that I gave up on Wogan years ago. I would love to have a chance of winning one of these prizes/experiences but there's no way in the world that I could even dream of affording them.

It turns the whole Children in Need thing into a bragging contest for the rich

Original poster

ImagineJL · 15/11/2013 10:50

I'm glad it's not just me.

Of course I think it's great that Children in Need benefit, and yes it's no great hardship to listen to another station for a week, but it's a stark daily reminder of the massive inequalities in the nation's finances. And given that the vast majority of us can only sit back and watch, I'm not sure it's really fit for peak-time national radio (for which, incidentally, I pay in my licence fee!).

And actually, if people have that much cash to spare, then maybe they should be giving it away anyway, rather than waiting until some TV chef agrees to cook them an olive and tarragon chiabata or whatever!

OP posts:

SunshineMMum · 15/11/2013 10:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tulip26 · 15/11/2013 11:01

I won't be watching that rubbish tonight. I can't afford to pay my TV license so they certainly won't be getting any of my money!

Flossiechops · 15/11/2013 11:05

Completely and utterly agree - it's just for Chris Evans ego I think!

paulagil · 15/11/2013 11:13

I agree with you, OP. i was listening to the golf bid until Chris announced that the bids were £50k. I thought I was well off but it seems that there are people who have thousands and thousands of pounds to chuck around on frivolities. I was thinking about the Victorian philanthropists the other day, Elizabeth Fry and the Rowntrees etc. i think that as a society we have lost the selfless acts of good work and only think about the "what's in it for me?" factor. CIN does raise a lot of money but the attitude is that we'll only donate if the entertainment is good, which shouldn't be the case. Oh dear. The road to Hell and all that.

Cityofgold · 15/11/2013 11:16

Oh god I'm glad it wasn't only me thinking that. Yes yes yes, totally agree. Did the irony not hit them? Broadcasting to a tiny minority of the over privileged, not to mention a minority of their audience, for a cause that often helps those with nothing? It just once again highlighted the disparity of wealth in this country, at obscene levels. Not impressed BBC.

pinkmoomin · 15/11/2013 11:39

YANBU. I find it all rather crass and have switched over. So much for 'We're all in this together'.

YouTheCat · 15/11/2013 11:44

I usually put radio 2 on on a Friday when I'm baking and cleaning. I really can't be doing with CinN at although I'm quite sure they do sterling work and all that but it is just a load of shit.

I shall have a dvd fest tonight and avoid it all.

expatinscotland · 15/11/2013 11:45

SSE's energy price hikes started today. Lots of children in need now.

PeggyCarter · 15/11/2013 11:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DorisHerod · 15/11/2013 12:11

Have always loathed the R2 auction. So much showing off for rich folk. If you've got that much money give it away like ordinary people do...cash in a charity box or gift aid it each month if you are working. Stop showing off. We're a first world country where working families can't afford to put the bloody heating on. Flashing money around is horrible and tasteless and this auction has the 'what's in it for me' awfulness as well.

Grrrrr. .

DorisHerod · 15/11/2013 12:18

We're hard up and we still put aside two little donations to Shelter and cancer research each month. These are little amounts but they are as much as we can do and we've been affected by homelessness and cancer in our families so feel we should. I expect lots of people are like us...the 'cost' of giving a little bit is actually quite big and we don't get a big fanfare for it, and neither would we want to. The focus should be in the work that can be done with the money not who gives it and how much. With all the fawning etc that goes with it.

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