Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Original poster

should children be on Britains Got Talent?????

15 replies

salsmum · 30/05/2013 11:49

On Tuesday's episode Simon made quite a few references to mr Grumpy
reading today's DM I see an article by Bruce Forsythe who says he is the Mr Grumpy Simon spoke about because BF had said that he doesn't think children should be on BGT because of the pressures etc..of performing on such a big scale and mentioned a young girl Hollie???? who burst into tears during a show a few years back....what are your feeling on Bruce's comments???? My son took part in talent shows when he was 11 which was deffo HIS choice and now works as a stage manager which he loves..is your child on the stage? I know once my son decided to take part in performances it would have been impossible to steer him towards anything else because he's so passionate about doing that as a career choice. He's 28 now and makes a good living out of the work he does.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 30/05/2013 11:54

My DD does do a lot of drama and singing and performs with school and her drama company, sometimes as a group and sometimes solo. She has done auditions and festival type things, but only age appropriate through school, drama or the local theatres.

i would not want DD doing something like BGT and I really don't like the TV shows having them on much tbh. The shows are not really geared up for children. It would be better to have age appropriate shows, aimed just at under 14s imo.

Too many of the children do end up upset and/or crying. And that is only the ones they show on TV. I suspect even more goes on off screen too.

harryhausen · 30/05/2013 20:01

I think it's fine.

Plenty of old timers started in single figures. Morcombe & Wise met and performed together when they were about 14 for example. I think kids are more savvy than people think. Look at the kids from weds night bgt and how they behaved. Then look at the 'adult' Alice Frederman (?) who fell to pieces and had a panic because she made a tiny mistake. I think the younger people took any criticism well.

Where would someone like Jack Carroll go to show his talent? A comedy club is hardly going to give him a go. He's a genuinely talented I think. Not because he has cerebral palsy, not because he's a child, but because he's just funny.

Happymum22 · 30/05/2013 21:53

It completely depends on the child. Yes BGT should have children on. But IMO it is the parents responsibility to judge if their child has the resilience and confidence to really survive to potential worse case scenario. It is also the producers responsibility to filter out children who seem more vulnerable.

Children are so varied- two of my DD would never want to do it but my third is quite into drama/singing but if she wanted to audition I would be reluctant as I knew at that age she wouldn't cope well if things went wrong and the pressure. For her, the school productions were plenty of pressure!
My DS loved the drums, he used to competitions on holiday at the kids club or at school or local ones- if he wanted to do BGT I probably would let him as he was so resilient and confident and not much would phase him!

SauvignonBlanche · 30/05/2013 21:57

I hate seeing children on BGT.

syl1985 · 31/05/2013 04:15

I also don't like it to see kids on there.
It's not only what happens on tv, but also when the cam goes off.

How are the children being trained in what they do?
Are they being pushed? Or lovingly supported by their family?
That makes a huge difference!

Some kids are being pushed, because for some reason their parents want their children to do what they want them to do at a high level. If the children fail they'll be disappointed at the child(ren).

But if the child isn't being pushed, but supported by the family. Then if the child fails a competition, something goes wrong or the child doesn't want to do it anymore it totally doesn't matter to them. They'll love their child(ren) just as much as always.

By allowing children in these type of programs I fear that more children will be pushed by their parents. Instead of being supported in something they are good at.

I used to be an Irish dancer. I've seen so many kids being pushed at these competitions. It's terrible and I think it's another form of child abuse.

So what if your kid doesn't win?
It's about having fun isn't it? Only one person can win. It's ok to be happy when your child wins, but totally stupid to feel upset when your child doesn't win the competition.

Blondeshavemorefun · 31/05/2013 17:18

God I rem that spoilt child

She had a paddy and got a second chance which was so unfair to all the others

And the production staff went apeshit as all timings in live shows are precise and show over ran by a few minutes cutting back on an advert and my friend whose boyfriend worked backstage said it was a nightmare

Plus teaches her that if I have a strop I get what I want

So no I don't think say under 10's should be able to perform

LadyBeagleEyes · 01/06/2013 16:54

I don't enjoy the child acts, sorry.
Jack Carroll is a teenager isn't he, and I think, wise enough to know what he's doing.
The Pre School group are great, but the tension and emotion on their little faces while they wait to get through is too much.
I'd set an age limit of about 11/12, High School age at least.

VestandKnickers · 01/06/2013 17:00

I hate seeing the children. They are too vulnerable at that age and I also don't think they should think celebrity is something to strive for. If they are talented at 10 they will still be talented at 18 when they'll have the emotional maturity to deal with it all better (or the maturity to realise its a waste of time!). I hate to say it but I agree with Brucie.

PattieOfurniture · 01/06/2013 17:20

I don't think they or their families realise how much impact these shows have and what an emotional rollercoaster it can be, at any age!

My son is very much the type you'd see on these shows, he is a natural, people say it to us all the time, his nursery did now his school, his drama group. He's won several talent shows at holiday camps.
All this comes from him though, we are not pushy in any way shape or form.
He has asked to audition for BGT. I think he'd do pretty well tbh, but we've said no, he's 7.

Sparklingbrook · 01/06/2013 17:23

No, I hate it when they get voted off and are upset. Some get through just because they are children and a bit cute.

Also, can all the singers go too? Go to X Factor. Yawn.

Blondeshavemorefun · 01/06/2013 18:23

god yes - fed up with singers on bgt

its meant to be for an act for the royal show that the queen will enjoy

xf is for singers, bgt should be for magicians, dance groups, comedians, impressionists etc

also would be fairer if have say all 8/9 singers one one night

and dancers on another and magicians/comedians etc on another

but thats coz they put crap acts against those that are good so obvious they will get inot the semi finals

Sparklingbrook · 01/06/2013 18:25

I don't want to see any singing or people doing impressions. Or people copying Diversity

I really want to see a dancing cat or something interesting like that. Something a bit original.

suckmabigtoe · 01/06/2013 18:25

far too many question marks for that title.

VestandKnickers · 01/06/2013 18:40

I don't want to see children, or those great big dance troups (expecially if they contain children), singers or scary magic acts (think of the Queen's nerves). I agree that a dancing cat would be just the ticket. Or wasn't there soomeone who makes squirrels wear hats? That would be perfect.
I hope Simon Cowell's reading this.

rainbowslollipops · 01/06/2013 19:29

No. Assandra comes across more spoilt than "diva'.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page