Live webchat with Holly Willoughby and her sister Kelly, Wednesday 19 June, 2-3pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Holly Willoughby and sister Kelly are joining us for a webchat on Wednesday 19th June at 2-3pm. Holly and Kelly always dreamt of writing a story together since their childhood when they would make up stories and dress up and perform for their parents. Their dream has come true as their first book School for Stars: First Term at L'etoile is being published on 20th June. Set in a performing arts boarding school, the story is a perfect mix ofGlee and X Factor but with all the classic charm of Ballet Shoes and Malory Towers; full of midnight feasts, makeovers, dares, drama and dance.

Holly is best known for presenting ITV1's flagship daytime programme This Morning as well as prime-time shows Surprise Surprise and The Voice. She won a Children's BAFTA award for best presenter in 2006. Kelly has always dreamt of being an author and is delighted to be realising her dream with her sister.

Come and chat to Holly and Kelly on Weds 19th at 2pm, but if you're unable to join us at that time, post your question in advance to this thread.

Holly and Kelly will also be signing copies of their new book after school next Thursday 20th June at 4.15pm in Harrods Toy Kingdom. Find out more.

She didnt avoid it. She said its a parents responsibility. That covers the use of Internet too presumably.

@BIWI

Well you are bound to say that, Helen, as it's clearly driving people to Mumsnet, which I do get isn't a bad thing.

But I wonder - especially given the posts that were actually made - how many of these people are joining for genuine reasons, as opposed to 'helping the conversation along?'

Given that you prevent people from registering prior to 'important' webchats, like the political ones, it seems a bit like double standards not to do the same here.

We honestly can't see any evidence of deliberate 'helping the conversation along' on this thread, BIWI. And we can't see anyone posting from the same building/office - apart from RachelMumsnet and Holly and Kelly.

Some of the posters you've mentioned as having only posted on this thread and nowhere else actually registered with Mumsnet a long time ago - and obviously decided to delurk for this webchat.

We hear what you're saying about this being on the fluffier end of the spectrum as far as MN webchats are concerned but we do think there's room for all sorts of webchats really - as indeed there's room for all sorts of Mumsnetters.

We've got a webchat about FGM and domestic violence with DFID minister Lynn Featherstone tomorrow, by the way.

She avoided the questions of how she feels about her conflicting personae.

So let me get this straight. HW is going hell for leather to create a new fanbase of eight year old girls and above, in order to sell books her sister has written. The reponsibility of ensuring those eight year old girls don't see her playing with dildos and talking about men spunking on her tts (readily available clips on youtube etc) is entirely down to us parents.

The media is completely fucked up.

If this somebody's idea of a modern role model I'm relieved I don't have girls.

JustGiveMe those are my thoughts exactly.

She is presented on Amazon as a role model, and given that the books her sister writes are for children then we must assume they mean a role model for children, but the responsibility for ensuring that role model reputation remains intact lies with everyone other than her.

Well, Helen, at least we have found out what lures the lurkers into posting

How will we entice them to post tomorrow, do you think?

Eurgh. Had to stop reading as the only questions that got answered were the sycophantic ones. No comment on appearing on a show and allowing yourself to be there purely to be perved over?
Can't believe grown women put things like 'you're my role model' to them!

Oh, and I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with lighter and fluffier webchats. But it's just a shame when - after being given some interesting questions - that the responses from our guests remain determinedly fluffy and ignore the more challenging stuff. It's a bit patronising really.

Flame me now but HW is a smoker. So role model is out for me.

I think it's perfectly fair to question whether she feels her career choices make her an appropriate role model for little girls, especially given that she seems to only be named as an author on the book her sister wrote to increase publicity and boost sales. If you make yourself a marketable commodity, then you need to be willing to discuss the coherence of your 'brand'.

It is actually possible for two people to write a book together.

@BIWI

Oh, and I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with lighter and fluffier webchats. But it's just a shame when - after being given some interesting questions - that the responses from our guests remain determinedly fluffy and ignore the more challenging stuff. It's a bit patronising really.

Yes, we totally take that on board. We do try to brief all our guests about the Mumsnet Way. We will try to do so even more persuasively.

Didn't she say though that Kelly has written the books?

I think it was obvious to quite a few of us was going to happen.

I wonder why Malorie Blackman wasn't considered a more appropriate visitor as a children's author for a webchat? [sceptical]

They said Kelly wrote the books, and Holly had ideas and rang her up and shit.

My didn't work . . .

. . . it's not physically possible for two people to physically write a book.

Maybe you should get Nicci French in for the next webchat and pass on the bad news.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when MNHQ brief the guests on the Mumsnet Way.

Yes indeed, Nicci [&] French do write alternative chapters and they keep the narrative flowing just fine.

Maybe you should get Nicci French in for the next webchat and pass on the bad news.

Yes please. Or Stephen King and Peter Straub.

I think I mean 'alternate'.

If she wanted fluffy she should have gone to Netmums.

She wants people to buy her book, thats why she was here. Most 7-8 year olds are not going to be able to buy things themselves and therefore they will ask their parent to do it for them. So the question about role models is not only valid from a childs perspective, but from an adults too.

This was her opportunity to put her point across, and if she had I would have respected her for that. Instead she gave some sneery reply which had probably been written before hand.

@spottybanana

I think it was obvious to quite a few of us was going to happen.

I wonder why Malorie Blackman wasn't considered a more appropriate visitor as a children's author for a webchat? [sceptical]

We've already "done" Malorie Blackman, spottybanana. Though, of course, we could try inviting her on again.

@LeGavrOrf

I would love to be a fly on the wall when MNHQ brief the guests on the Mumsnet Way.

HW should know the MN way as the TM researchers must tell her all about what they read.