Child Genius

[evaperonspoodle]

And so it begins!

I must admit I love this programme mostly to watch the parents Strong contenders for the unhinged parenting award are the PHd in Chemistry mum or the Twins' mum. She clearly thinks the world of her son and her daughter is a not so close second.

Michael is puberty minus three months off deciding his mum is stupid and annoying.

Ah guys, no need to be nasty. They could well be reading. I know I wasn't exactly complimentary myself, but I've had a wee chat with myself and will post more kindly in future.
It's fair enough if you're a celeb and used to being torn apart, but these are run of the mill people and to read these nasty posts could actually really hurt them.

Is William's Mum the one where the phone went off?
From my viewing of it, she was more upset that he was upset when he went back to sit down than anything else.
No mother likes to see their child upset.

No, Michael's mum fussed about the phone. Michael thought she was making a fuss about nothing.

Maybe Williams mum was asked about her she felt, and she came out with that comment without thinking. Ie. That competition was about William, so she spoke about him. Off camera, she may be as loving towards all her children. As someoneup thread said, sister may be talented elsewhere and mum supportive of her then. (Disclaimer - I don’t know any of them)

Nishi was amazing and totally deserved to win. William came across as an extremely nice young man but I felt that if he’d won it would be more about his mum winning than him winning! Sad to see Ben go out in the final round.

I didn’t see all of the episodes this year, but from what I did see, there seemed to be fewer loopily competitive parents than in previous years.

there seemed to be fewer loopily competitive parents than in previous years

Yes they seem to be running thin, which is probably why I haven't enjoyed this year as much!

Glad Nishi won. She seemed to be doing it for herself. William seemed likeable but it was just a proxy glory project for his mum. William didn't even have a subject he was passionate about his mum chose hers which she can't be that interested in to stop doing it to be a SAHM to 2 secondary school age kids.

I also thought Sam was flipping adorable. The way he described his brain as being like a storage cupboard with people inside who organised everything for him. I would have liked to see him in the final.

I’d love a follow up of these kids to see how they are doing. The series has been going a few years now, so some must be at university or nearing it.

Someoneup thread said that Richard will no longer be hosting it. I though he did a good job. I wonder they will get to replace him, a nerdy, brainy type, or someone completely different?

Yes the early ones must be uni age by now. Speaking if which are we due another Child of Our Time?

I would love to know how Shrinidee (sp?) is getting on.
Yes I was thinking about Child of Our Time, but they are 19ish now and possibly not keen to appear in another programme. Some of them will have friends who don't even know they were in it.
I have enjoyed Richard Osman as chair. He at least tried to have a rapport with the competitors.

I’d like a programme about the back stories of some of the more colourful parents who appear on Child Genius just to gain a little more insight into why they behave as they do.

And, yes, well done to Nishi. She had a preternatural calmness under pressure which will stand her in good stead in adult life.

Having a twin DB myself, I was particularly interested in the group dynamic in the family of the twins Michael and Melissa. The degree to which children conform to the expectations of the family as a collective unit is fascinating.

In the last episode, Ishal’s Uncle Amran, said:

‘If she was to win and get that trophy hope, I will struggle to find something else in my life that could beat that.’

I felt that was a telling admission.

Actually I think there are quite a few parents posting on MN who are focused on the intellectual achievements of their DC to such an extent that their own undoubted talents are going uncultivated. If it were otherwise, they wouldn’t have the time to post as frequently as they do, and I'd like to tell them to invest a little more in their own hopes and dreams as individuals.

Shrinidi went to my secondary school. I expect she did very well indeed there! I also saw something after the series she was in saying about some kind of essay competition she won, IIRC

God I hope Rachel Riley doesn’t take over Richard Osman.

Stephen Fry could do it. He's got that tweedy, Oxbridge air and he's also rather tall - like RO - which would enhance the children's 'so little yet so knowledgeable' look on the programme.

Why? Rachel Riley is lovely.

Currently watching number 4 and love Harry and Sam's families. Actually glad that the focus isn't on zilla parents, this time.

Funnily, I was admiring Sam's parents' house then the camera panned to the round mirror that we have, then the ikea side table we have under it!

Rachel Riley is awful. Vain, narcissist and smug to boot. Really hope she doesn’t get the gig too.

She's incredibly encouraging of kids. where do you get the vain from? Or the smug?

So many 'haitches' going on

Some really nasty keyboard warriors on here slating off peoples looks. Wonder what they would think of you?

They would have a lot to say about my slatternly looks and my child's quirks, which is exactly why I wouldn't put them on national TV.

Just watched the final, William's mother at the end was going on about how she doesn't love anyone else more than him (or words to that effect) and the daughter was giving looks. It was so bad it was funny.

How the hell would you know that, William's mum Dotty?

Tottygirl, are they given specific syllabuses to revise from for things like the Geography and science rounds? I assume otherwise the younger kids would be at a major disadvantage?