How the other half live

[MollieO]

Bit of a tv evening for me tonight! Anyone else watching?

Tiggyr....ooooh well...I am writing a book...so you will need to read it when its published nxt year!! ps i am 44 but feel 144 after the character assasinations I have endured, thanks to ch 4 and their editing, did you know we shot 130 hours of film for their 50 min version!!

that any mum would do such a rottern mean thing as to leave Brandon with a broken game....I would never do that...I knew there was more coming when I bought the laptop...and BRANDON DOES USE THE LAPTOP...and our clapped out old pc died a few days ago, right on cue...so thank god we have blasted laptop as Brandon loves to play Penguin Club ,and Roblox...arghhhhh!! I am not a monster druggy psycho freak!! there...I feel better now....

Have you had the second spanish hols yet? Was trying to work out when this was all recorded, was it earlier this year?

Poopscoop, we ended filming about 3 wks ago with Brandons room being at the end.We started filming in mid May... We went to Spain 11 June....no we have not been back yet.....The filming took a long time, as you can imagine for 130 hrs....there was sooo much positive stuff they left out...why I shall never know, ch 4 even now tell me its a lovely film and well recieved! what planet do they live on? ....

Michaela, you are coming across as a really lovely, intelligent woman with great a sense of humour. It's easy to see where Brandon gets it from now.

I honestly didn't think how you came across on the programme was that bad, and I really admire you for coming and posting on this thread to defend yourself anyway.

Keep your chin up, it's easy for people to make judgemental and quite frankly, bitchy comments under the veil of internet anonimity.

Television is not real. Even reality television.

No doubt they left the positive stuff out because the way it was portrayed will gain more viewers, more discussions and more people watching the next episode. It is a real shame they picked out parta that put you in a bad light. I am mortified about my comment further up the thread and hope you accept my apology.

So glad you came on here to put us straight. If I were you, I would be telling everyone that the way it was edited was not how things were. Contract or no contract with channel 4. Out of interest do ch4 pay you alot of money for the filming? I am trying to fathom why they do not want you to speak about it.

can I ask, the money issue aside, if you knew then (re the channel 4 not the mullins family) would you still have gone for the programme or would you not?

Also, again aside form the material stuff and brandons bedrom, would you say you have gained overal - and I don't mean money wise, but support etc.

how are you getting on with the creams?

channel 4 did not pay us a cent, pound or jelly bean....we were considered to be compensated by the other family....and yes,,,shaun,myself,brandon and marcus were on BBC radio sussex this morning on the breakfast show...and I made sure I said my piece...calmly!!! steaming underneath though....grr...Thankyou for all your apologies...its ok now...I just could not keep quiet...I hate injustice..and you are all very nice folk

well we are once we're talking rational, althou if you go in the bar sometimes it's a bit of a fruity chat lol.

Phew, have just managed to catch up with the thread.

Michaela, respect to you for coming on here and explaining. You come across well, and with a lovely sense of humour too Stick around, you will grow to like mumsnet!

NO I WOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN< NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! never never never!!What did I gain from it..errmmmmmm....scratches head.....not to trust the media in any way whatsoever....on the positive side, we have made some lovely friends and had a unique experience that I hope above all, will show Brandon the world is his oyster and he can be and do whatever his heart desires with no limitations,only his attitude can stand in his way.And Marcus will learn from Brandons example as hes a wee bit young yet...wasnt he cute when we said were going to spain and he rolled back on the couch!! awwww.

do u wanna think about that then?? lol. just to be sure that's a no then!

michaela - any chance you can steer mrs mullins over here? Would be great to hear what she feels about it all too.

I watched this last week on holiday and thought you came across just fine.

It was really, really obvious to me that you and your lovely partner were swallowing all your pride and embarassment to do this for your children.

You should be very proud of yourself and your family

I know a few people who have agreed to be involved in TV interviews/programmes or newspaper articles, and they are always misrepresented and end up feeling cheated. I'd love to go on Come Dine with Me, but even though it's only a bit of fun I can't help wondering whether they would cast me as they bitchy loudmouth or the uptight Hyacinth Bucket as it's obligatory to have one of each in every episode! All TV production companies decide their agenda first and cut their cloth accordingly.

I also want to say Michaela, that whatever people's feelings about your character or your actions, unkind and cruel comments about your appearance were irrelevant and totally unforgivable.

So, you've written a book, eh? See, I knew there was a story there! Fewlt it in my bones. Have you actually got a publisher already, then? Because if you have then that's great going, a huge achievement, and writing a book is work - proper hard work, even though other people don't always realise it.

The bunkbed in Marcus s room is Brandons,I spent months trying to get them to sleep together, once Marcus was out of his cot,\brandon, like me,rumbles,tosses and turns,and talks very loudly in his sleep..which wakes Marcus up,and when Marcus also realises Brandon is in the room,he thinks its play time,and proceeds to climb onto Brandons bunk,and start jumping on Brandons head,tweaking his nose,and upsetting Brandon so much that he starts shouting in rage.This cycle would occur about every 2 hours,all night,and poor Brandon could not cope with it,and school,as a young boy really needs his sleep.Do you get the idea?? nightmare situation.As I like to go to bed and read a book etc...Brandon opted for the futon in lounge...as a temporary measure untill we could work out either how to get out of this flat....etc.If anyone has any ideas about how to get waring siblings to sleep together I would be interested, but god knows we tried,Brandon also tried sleeping in my room,and I had the couch for 2 years,but he decided he did not like my room.A lot of you have asked about this so thats why ive raised it now.

poor you, michaela, tough lesson learned here i think. hopefully in time you'll decide that your boys got a lot out of being on the programme, in terms of ambition etc more than money.

bear in mind, though, reality tv is one of those bread and circuses things, we all like to have a moan and a but at the same time everyone knows that it's not a true representation of what went on. 130 hours distilled into 50mins is pretty standard i'd have thought.

so in a way, try to separate yourself from that michaela and yourself, because like you, everyone else really does know that it's not the full picture. we're just mouthing off here, we'll move onto someone else next (in fact we have already), so hold your head high and know that you were trying to do some good for your sons. and even despite this hiccup, you probably have done, for their longer term aspirations.

My two youngest can't share a bedroom either, which is why my three and a half year old still sleeps in my bed. Hubby sleeps downstairs on a sofa bed, we've had all sort of sleeping arrangements in this house. Easy for people to judge, but whatever works for you. Everybody getting a rested nights sleep is the most important thing.

Hi Michaela after reading this thread I just want to apologise I watched last weeks episode and was screaming at the TV about how selfish and awful you were I am sorry . Are you staying on MN tis a very nice place ?

'What did I gain from it..errmmmmmm....scratches head.....'

umm £4000 wasnt it?

plus the trust fund, free holidays and a new bedroom