Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Pete and Sue in Outnumbered are wet lettuce parents

60 replies

Vintagejazzing · 04/07/2023 10:42

I have been re-watching the series over the last few nights and been really struck by what crap parents Sue and Pete are. I know that's part of the joke, but they're really really bad.
Once Karen and Ben got past the cute curly headed moppet stage they were actually obnoxious kids. Rude, disobedient, constantly answering back, disliked by fellow pupils and teachers. Karen even had to be called in by her Headmistress during her first year in secondary school for a conversation about how dislikeable and annoying she is.
AIBU to think Sue and Pete were useless parents who should have done a bit more telling off and a bit less 'reasoning' with their kids?

OP posts:
Doinst · 04/07/2023 10:43

That’s the joke, isn’t it?

Original poster
Vintagejazzing · 04/07/2023 10:44

I know, but the joke wore thin after about two series. The kids were too old for it to be cute anymore. Maybe they just dragged the series out too long.

OP posts:
ISeeMisledPeople · 04/07/2023 10:46

I'm not convinced the show would have been with watching without that aspect, would it?

Original poster
Vintagejazzing · 04/07/2023 10:48

Yes, I'm just being light hearted really but they were absolutely useless bloody parents.

OP posts:
LaMaG · 04/07/2023 10:51

I had to stop watching it cos it stressed me out too much, too relatable!!! I suspect any parent with a precocious kid like Karen would have struggled and come across weak to be honest.

Original poster
Vintagejazzing · 04/07/2023 10:52

Ben was even worse than Karen. I actually couldn't stand him in the end. Jake was the only likeable one.

OP posts:
SmoothSeasDoNotMakeGoodSailors · 04/07/2023 10:52

Did you know they are a couple irl?

Original poster
Vintagejazzing · 04/07/2023 10:54

So I believe. That actually surprised me because I didn't think they had huge on screen chemistry.

OP posts:
EmmaPaella · 04/07/2023 10:55

I love Pete and Sue. I watched the one the other day where her perfect neighbour leaves the house with her perfect children and could totally relate. But then, I am probably a wet lettuce parent myself.

JulieHoney · 04/07/2023 10:55

If they were good parents it wouldn’t be a sit com.

RebulahConundrum · 04/07/2023 10:56

I'm rewatching Desperate Housewives and Lynette is the same. Always saying how exhausted she is with the kids but barely does anything to stop them being hooligans.

EarringsandLipstick · 04/07/2023 10:58

I agree but that's the whole premise - they are fairly awful parents hence the comedy car-crash watching - it's looking at the underside of parenting, us on our worst days, except it's every day.

LakeTiticaca · 04/07/2023 11:00

I was under the impression that mumsnet law stipulates you are not actually allowed to tell your kids off 😉 some of the posts on here about badly behaved kids make Karen and Ben look positively angelic 🤣🤣

Original poster
Vintagejazzing · 04/07/2023 11:00

Is feel really sorry for Aunty Angela. I know she's a pita herself, but the insults she has to take from Karen!!!

While Sue just grimaces and changes the subject, instead of taking Karen to one side for some firm words!!

OP posts:
twoshedsjackson · 04/07/2023 11:02

I remember one of the child actors admitting in an interview that they wouldn't try the same nonsense on their real parents.
I guess, as PP's sake, that was part of the joke.

Original poster
Vintagejazzing · 04/07/2023 11:04

I know it was all part of the joke, and it worked brilliantly in the earlier series. But by the time the kids were getting to 10/11 it wasn't really working anymore. The kids didn't come across as cute and charming, but as seriously annoying brats.

OP posts:
Stirredandconfused678 · 04/07/2023 11:04

Doinst · 04/07/2023 10:43

That’s the joke, isn’t it?

Yes, exactly! It’s the entire point of the show! Hence the title!

Original poster
Vintagejazzing · 04/07/2023 11:06

Stirredandconfused678 · 04/07/2023 11:04

Yes, exactly! It’s the entire point of the show! Hence the title!

Show quote history

I know. Maybe I should have put 'lighthearted' in the title 😒

OP posts:
EmmaPaella · 04/07/2023 11:07

Vintagejazzing · 04/07/2023 11:04

I know it was all part of the joke, and it worked brilliantly in the earlier series. But by the time the kids were getting to 10/11 it wasn't really working anymore. The kids didn't come across as cute and charming, but as seriously annoying brats.

I think the implication is that Ben has ADHD or something though?

LaMaG · 04/07/2023 11:12

I actually don't think they were necessarily bad parents, they were just in over their heads and overwhelmed. Hence the show title. I honestly am not sure in some scenarios what they could have done differently, especially with Ben. I have a 'Ben' and relate!

LaMaG · 04/07/2023 11:13

Love Aunty Angela and her relationship with Sue. Brilliant comedy

dartsofcupid · 04/07/2023 11:14

They always remind me of that comment Nigella made in How To Eat about how when she was little the world was run by adults and by the time she became a parent herself the world was run by children, and she seemed somehow to have missed her turn. I do have a soft spot for Ben, I never really found him annoying (apart from the farm episode 😝) possibly biased cos he looks like one of mine (thankfully doesn’t have the same appetite for chaos tho).

woodhill · 04/07/2023 11:15

Love outnumbered and the wet lettuces

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 04/07/2023 11:17

It just serves as a warning to us all! My kids love watching it now too. Our family is somewhere nowhere near that chaotic, but we all have our moments and it makes us feel better because our lives could be worse. In the final Christmas special they all seem to be working out ok. I love the little asides which hint at far worse disasters than the glimpses we see on film. Wish that Ottfried had another episode too, such a good contrast with the family!

Floraltears · 04/07/2023 11:18

The awful parenting is what makes it fun to watch, I love the episodes with Sue’s friend Jane…they remind me so much of people I know in real life 😀