Idea for new parenting advice TV show based on Mumsnet Talk - your thoughts/input needed

[JustineMumsnet]

You may have clocked a wee announcement last week that Channel 4 are interested in making a TV show featuring real mums sharing their best support and advice to others in need of it, a sort of TV version of Mumsnet Talk. We have been approached by the production company - Studio Lambert - to work together to come up with a pilot for the show.

If it's commissioned it's likely to be 6-8 programmes of 1 hour length (48 mins without the ads). The (very rough) idea is to have 4 or so featured families per show, each with a specific parenting problem and a range of mums who've been there and done that or just have some insight, giving their help, support and advice in an attempt to help them through the problem, a la Mumsnet.

We're at a very early stage but we wanted to ask for any thoughts about format, participation, whether/how you'd like to be approached - a panel, a sticky thread? - what you think the pitfalls are, what the opportunities are, what subject matter you'd like to see covered and indeed anything else that springs to mind on the subject.

Many thanks in advance for your input.

definately in a debate show format, or like Question time... spanking vs non spanking etc would be v amusing tv.
(DH's that is...not DCs)

you are launcing the MN brand....for world-takeover...
Boden will want a brand-piggy-back

more 'launching' the brand than 'lancing' tbh oops

Would it work if you filled a studio with Mums with relevant experience in the topics to be raised in that episode and then allowed a whole studio debate? It could be a bit like the Wright Stuff but with much more audience participation.

It would have to be late at night so that the mums could speak almost as freely as they do on here.

It could be interspersed with footage of various techniques being demonstrated or Jackie style photo stories of how the various methods might pan out (I am picturing Voldemort and her dd's bedroom being played out in various ways ).

I can't help thinking that it's not going to appeal to primetime programme execs without some element of jeopardy or conflict. So you'll end up with something like that awful programme that pitted two different techniques against each other (the one that Daisy Goodwin got slated for on her webchat).

How are you going to avoid that Justine? While also not being some horrible, twee ghetto-ised "coffee morning" style sub-This Morning boke-fest?

Actually does anyone remember that programme from the 70s? I think it was actually called "Coffe Morning". You could watch it when you were off school. It was supposedly set in someone's house and had a bunch of gasbags blahing on about recipes and stuff.

No? Just me then..

I meant Loose Women in the sense that there's no defined leader or director, and no one expert with a particular agenda. All panelists can give their opinion or bring up a subject.

Which reminds me, featured parents should also be panelists, participating in supporting other featured parents.

Definitely not a male presenter or anchor!

Ooh like carrots idea bit like when Russell Brand did Big Brother's Big Mouth, all random & shouty and big wanger-like microphones [cgrin]

Not Russell Brand. Oh god not Russell Brand - that creature is revolting!

I like (some) of the pieces in the Grauniad Weekend's Family section - particularly the real people rather than sleb stuff. I think some of those could translate nicely onto a TV programme.

Format it like Grumpy Old Women, just call is Miserable Old Mothers or something. Humour v important in child rearing!

Reading all of these ideas leads me to believe that the only way it would truly represent MN is if it is a free for all. Which would not work on TV.

Really, I can't think of any website that has translated to TV. Ever see Shit My Dad Says the TV Show? It was awful, but the website/twitter feed was hysterical.

This is writing. That is talking. It really doesn't go well one to the other.

If it is to be scheduled as a day time or early evening show, I can't see it being 'allowed' to be anything other than 'beige' in its format, which Mumsnet is anything but. I'm also wary of vulnerable families under the spotlight with their problems being exploited in a voyeuristic judgeypantness kind of way, which is sometimes how these things can go.
A question time type of theme might be good, but I would be concerned about people with really extreme views saying their bit, which might be great for ratings but largely not particularly helpful for those having problems.
squeaver I remember that show, I think it may have had Mary Parkinson and Mavis someone or other.

There are way too many shows with a 'problem family' featured trying to resolve 'an issue' : Supernanny, Supersize v Superskinny etc etc. How could you have a load of conflicting views put together to make a coherent programme? Here's how

First part of show: loads of sofas and coffee/wine/ biscuits. Loads of mumsnetters, and one of them starts a discussion about 'an issue' (my lovely ds keeps having nightmares/ won't eat fish/ etc' - cue loads of chat and advice and solutions (like with your mates) so NOT a focus on one terrible family that needs solving.

Then that one goes off, is filmed trying out the advice she likes, comes back and chats about it the following week, before next problem is aired.

I want to be on telly am very good at sharing my practical opinions on parenting raising btw

I'd just like to add at this point (in case it does come to fruition) that I have a face for television, the camera loves me, and I do have a certain je ne sais quoi which would puts me in a prime position to represent Mumsnet in this exciting new venture. :o

Another vote for 'Not like Loose Women' please. I can see how the format of 'Te Wright Stuff' might work with lots of participation, but I like the idea of the format of 'The One Show' where you intersperse with VTs of the issues, maybe like pram testing or showing a labour ward, or something... Good luck with it though - bit of a mission to get it right!

Didn't you already do this once, years ago? I'm sure I remember seeing some kind of Mumsnet television series thing with Justine and Carrie when I was pregnant with DS, or possibly when he was a baby. Or is that a hallucination born of too much cheese?

squeaver Yes, i remember it. That's exactly what I thought of when I read the OP.
It was like being round at one of your mum's friends houses, lots of chat and women with big hair and frilly blouses.

I think that the two main strengths of MN are 1) the anonymity 2) the range of people that post, and therefore the range of opinions expressed.
The anonymity thing is crucial, I think as people are more honest in their questions, and their answers. I can't see how this would relate to TV.

I think that the charm of MN is that you can avoid discussing children altogether. If it's a show about parenting, I'm out

What would be really interesting would be to see the different parenting 'problems' in all their gruesome detail, like One Born Every Minute. So the TV prog is a fly on the wall for the first 8 weeks with a newborn, showing the reality of all the sleepless nights, the early breastfeeding problems, the baby blues etc. Film four different families at the same stage with their child 24-7 and then contrast and compare the different styles and their 'results', cut with comments from mums who have been there and done that and conclude that in the end every child basically turns out fine, there are just loads of different ways of getting there...