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.

i think the min you have rl people on it they will be UNiversally hated ( like on egg heads) and no fucker will want to do that.

just don't have a shoeboot section

ill shoe boot you up the jacksie

Agree with One sandwich, really. It'll end in tears, mark my words ...

channel 4?

nuff said really.

Very wise words from onesandwich - take heed, MNHQ

HAIRY?

[wunk]

Thanks everyone for your input - it is tricky to see how it's going to capture the MN spirit - all the verve and humour. I'm going to ask the producers to come on and give us their thoughts about the points you've raised.

sorry haven't read it all so may be repeating what others have said but I think it is a very bad idea to elevate particular mumsnetters to the position of advising/commenting on a family. It is the multitude of voices which makes mumsnet work. I suggest posting a video from a family in toruble on mumsnet and then encouraging mumsnetter to film brief videos of themselves offering advice and to send them in (same as posts just video) and then these can be edited together. I think it will only work if the TV input is just light touch editorial but mumsnetters post the advice themselves without a TV crewe present.

How about. . . . .

Each programme covers a story from - say - four different families with differing problems, handled like a mini-doc. So we get a brief family history, an outline of the problem then how diff members of the family want to go forward.

Viewers are invited to post HELPFUL suggestions/similar experiences for each story, possibly, if chosen, with a view to meeting the TV family in next programme to share experience or just to offer advice anonymously.

The best of these pearls of wisdom are then talked about with the participants in the next programme in the hope of helping them make a decision to get to the next stage. This prog could then introduce 4 more families/topics for next week.

Maybe have an expert on tap too. I'm thinking a sort of visual Radio4/You and Yours/Woman's hour here.

Could also have scrolling live (vetted) posts throughout the programme.

Vast subject matter could range from the start
Marriage
C section V. Natural
Should we stop at 2
My child does/doesnt . . . .
My husband/partner does/doesnt. ..

All the way to
Should granny go in a home.

Could deal with relations/money/health - anything really.

Hello! I just wanted to introduce myself as one of the Executive Producers at Studio Lambert, and thank you all for your input so far - it's incredibly useful.

As most of you have already said, the big challenge for us is going to be capturing the spirit of MN and the wide range of issues and advice.

At the moment we're not planning on using any presenters or tv 'experts', and we'd like to steer clear of the 'women-on-sofa' thing that some of you have refered to too. The idea is to keep it in the real world with a free-flowing group of Mums offering a wide range of support and advice... and maybe the occasional witty anecdote too!

We're still in the early stages of developing this idea so we're very grateful for all the thoughts and advice we can get. From now on the series producer, Freya, and I will be constantly checking in to respond to your thoughts and questions.

Our next step is to try and produce a mini pilot which won't be broadcast, but will give us the opportunity to see if we can actually come up with something that will make good telly and do MN justice.

Thanks again.

Welcome, rosa.

I don't mean to be patronising when I ask this, but it's actually very important. Do you or any of your colleagues actually belong to Mumsnet? Do you have any real idea of what it's like?

It is so important that you really understand the brand fully, in terms of its users, its values and the whole experience that makes it so unique.

For a start, we're not just 'mums' - there are single people on here as well as men who are dads. And we're not just mums of babies -there are lots of us here with older children, as well as those who are grandparents (just have a look at the Hagsnet thread to get an idea of some of that!!!)

And there's more than the 'occasional witty anecdote' on Mumsnet. Thank the lord.

You NEED to include a team of "Comedy Mums" and there are a LOT of us on the circuit...both actors and writers...and it will be Half Smack the Pony and half talk show...which is what MN is in a nutshell!

disclaimer

I am not funny on MN because I spend my working life sweating over sketches and it's hard work. I can't afford to waste share material which I might otherwise get paid for!

can you imagine the wannae-be,big heids,and i tell ye this types who'd apply to dispense advice.oh my fucking god

I was going to suggest animation to preserve anonymity, but WMMC got there first. Something like the Canadians in Southpark with their flappy heads.

Like some others, I think it sounds like a much better radio programme.

If you theme each episode then start threads on each topic you'll get the Variety-of-views element.

I'd watch it if it was presented by Tamsin Greig or Jessica Hynes. Or possibly Ruth Jones.

some posters are big heided enough asserting they are royalty without going on tv too. no no

I'd like that actress to front it...the one from NIghtyNight....V funny and also a Mum!

denise van outen could present,shes had a mn initiation already

despite it being the last point in an otherwise excellent post, i think onesandwichshort drops the final grenade into this when she says that people by and large are made fools of by telly. studio lambert are a reasonably good production company but some b and b owner appearing on three in a bed at least knows that they are getting publicity for their cackhole, even if they are presented as idiots. what do mners have to gain/lose by putting themselves up for this sort of thing?

i would just remind everyone about the threads written by the mner who went on come dine with me...

I don't think people need to get protective of MN...if a show gets made, then it will be done as the producers want it in the end. If there's something that makes people uncomfortable about going on a television programme then they don't have to do it.

I am sure that if the production company are not members they will have spent a LOT of time reading posts,BecauseImWorthIt. They will have a VERY good dea of what MN is about...and that's why they want to put it on the stage!

MN will have been discussed in production companies up and down the country, mumapillar, with no guarantee that researchers know anything other than what they have read in the daily mail about us.

this place is about relationships, at heart, you can't read those relationships in an afternoon.

Arf at "getting publicity for their cackhole". Is that a veiled reference to Friday Nights Aitch?

heheheh.

I think celebs mentioned on here all the time should be invited to do a slot.
Mylene of course
Matthew Wright
Kerry Katona
etc