This Morning/Gogglebox

People can't have it all ways. You could say 'what about' to a number of situations, but the bottom line is that all TV before 9.00pm can't reasonably be expected to be suitable for young children.

Either parents or grandparents want to screen what their children see, in which case don't leave them alone when a TV is airing a programme for an adult audience, or put a children's channel on instead of something aimed at a more general audience. If they are willing to accept that watching TV with children will run the risk that they might see something that they personally don't feel is suitable, then it's not reasonable to complain when it does.

We all have different points of view about what is ok for children to view, anyway, so we all need to take responsibility for what our own children see. I would rather they saw an item about sex toys (which I doubt they would understand anyway) than news about murder or war that could scare them and make them anxious.

If I'd felt uncomfortable about anything shown on a magazine show that I was watching when they were there I would have distracted them or turned it off, as I'd know that it was aimed at me, not at them. Children would probably rather be watching CBeebies or whatever in any case - or doing something more interesting. If someone has This Morning on when looking after three year olds they aren't considering their needs in the first place.

Consequently when my children were young I didn't put the 6.00 News on when they were there, and watched News at Ten instead when they were in bed. I didn't expect the rest of the population to do the same though, as many people like to catch up with the News in the early evening.

Puzzlelove if a parent or grandparent is out of the room what is to stop the child/children from scrolling through the channels?

The watershed only applies to BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Chanel’s 4 & 5, Sky, Netflix and the rest of the streaming services including ITVX, BBCiplayer, My5 do not have a 9pm watershed, anything is available to watch anytime if the day.

Doodledog

It’s not a children’s programme. I know that it’s watched by a lot of parents at home with children, but IMO it’s up to them to ensure that their children don’t see things that they feel are inappropriate. If they aren’t comfortable with a topic they can switch it off.

I believe that the biggest audience for This Morning is students, and the topic is something that might interest them. There are whole channels devoted to children’s tv, and I don’t think that adult programming should have to adapt its content in case parents are using tv as a babysitter.

I appreciate it’s not a children’s programme or channel but don’t agree that parents are necessarily using the Tv as a babysitter. We are retired and home a lot during the day but don’t watch daytime television but what about the grandparents who do watch it, perhaps had their grandchildren over during the holidays, and had left the room for a few minutes while this was being aired, they wouldn’t have expected this type of thing being showed in the morning. After the watershed of 9 I quite agree we should expect to see swearing, sex etc.,

Yes GG and very graphic! If any children were watching, I doubt if they understood it. I certainly didn't understand much of it!

Doodledog good post, I agree with all of it 👍

*That’s all very well to say, but if parents and children are around the lounge at half term and this item just pops up (!) with no warning then it’s a bit late isn’t it?
No need to show these on a morning show, particularly on school holidays.*

What time was it on, before 9pm, no excuse whatsoever. The watershed is there for a reason.
But where do you draw the line? Should the entire population see nothing unsuitable for three year olds because there are parents who don’t want their children to know about something but want the tv on when they’re there, and don’t want to take responsibility for screening what their children see?

If a parent wants the tv as a babysitter there are whole channels for children. If they are happy for their children to watch programming aimed at adults then they risk their seeing ‘adult tv’. I don’t object to ‘trigger warning’ announcements, but the plan should be to allow people to opt out rather than to impose their viewing preferences on everyone else.

Daytime tv has items on erectile dysfunction, cancer, mental illness, news bulletins about war, murder etc. There are films on Channel 5 with crime as a theme, Midsomer Murders and Poirot on in the afternoon and all manner of things (including horror) on streaming platforms. Children could see any of that if their parents are watching in their presence. Should that be taken off too, and only those wanting to watch after 9.00pm be able to see it?

Kate1949

To be honest, the presenters looked embarrassed. Some of the gadgets they showed were mind boggling. Well to this old lady anyway!

I did think that Lizzie Candy was rather brave to have tried the toys and then report back…

Just no need.

To be honest, the presenters looked embarrassed. Some of the gadgets they showed were mind boggling. Well to this old lady anyway!

Freya5

What time was it on, before 9pm, no excuse whatsoever. The watershed is there for a reason.

Unfortunately there is no such thing as a watershed on the internet which is why young children are accessing porn at young ages.

I am all for openness regarding sex in consensual loving relationships. We are in an age were parents have to be proactive regarding all aspects of sex, otherwise who knows what ideas children will pick up on the internet regarding what is right and wrong…

10 am Freya

Oreo there was a warning on the programme the day before and several times before the item on the day.

Doodledog

It’s not a children’s programme. I know that it’s watched by a lot of parents at home with children, but IMO it’s up to them to ensure that their children don’t see things that they feel are inappropriate. If they aren’t comfortable with a topic they can switch it off.

I believe that the biggest audience for This Morning is students, and the topic is something that might interest them. There are whole channels devoted to children’s tv, and I don’t think that adult programming should have to adapt its content in case parents are using tv as a babysitter.

That’s all very well to say, but if parents and children are around the lounge at half term and this item just pops up (!) with no warning then it’s a bit late isn’t it?
No need to show these on a morning show, particularly on school holidays.

What time was it on, before 9pm, no excuse whatsoever. The watershed is there for a reason.

I am very surprised that students watch it. I watch it most days. (Yes it is dire but they do a free competition most days where you can win cash ).
This week the presenters were Dermot O'Leary (50) and Alison Hammond (49). Young to me but not to students I would imagine.

They have articles on the menopause, fashion for over 40s, 50s, 60s. Perhaps the students are planning ahead!

Louella12

I doubt very much that any student would be remotely interested in this dire programme

Their main audience is older folks who might have this on as background noise.

Sex toys? I'd not seen this but clearly they are desperately trying to find something that might be interesting

Think again.

Students absolutely do watch it, as do mums of young children. That’s why the presenters are young, the fashion items are generally geared to young women and the ads are for items young people buy. I can’t find a publicly available demographic breakdown of the figures on my phone but will try later - I’m out and about just now.

I don’t watch it either but that doesn’t alter the viewing figures other than that I reduce the ‘older folks’ who might watch it by one .

If you want to know who watches a programme look at the ads. ITV3 is all about mobility aids, funeral plans and specialist holiday insurance.

Pre-school children are highly unlikely to pay attention to items about sex toys, and if older ones are watching I think it is up to their parents to supervise.

It was a Valentines Day item.

(I didn't see it - except for the Googlebox clip which also included the "This Morning" warning)

Just saying.

I am on the fence between Doodledog and GrannyGravy13.

If there were plenty of warnings then adults can whisk littlies away. There are plenty of frightening , dreadful things currently on the news, so the adults should be aware of what youngsters are watching.

I did see the programme whilst ironing, there were several warnings before the very short segment.

I thought it was conducted in a grown up and tasteful way, sex shouldn’t be brushed under the carpet.

Actually if elder children were at home (ours are on half term next week) it could have been a conversation starter. It is now acknowledged that the majority of children have seen some form of pornography before they enter secondary school.

Discussing sex and toys in the context of a loving relationship shouldn’t be something to hide.

Don't watch it. Probably viewing figures are down and this was an attempt to boost them.

I doubt very much that any student would be remotely interested in this dire programme

Their main audience is older folks who might have this on as background noise.

Sex toys? I'd not seen this but clearly they are desperately trying to find something that might be interesting

Think again.

It’s not a children’s programme. I know that it’s watched by a lot of parents at home with children, but IMO it’s up to them to ensure that their children don’t see things that they feel are inappropriate. If they aren’t comfortable with a topic they can switch it off.

I believe that the biggest audience for This Morning is students, and the topic is something that might interest them. There are whole channels devoted to children’s tv, and I don’t think that adult programming should have to adapt its content in case parents are using tv as a babysitter.

Now I know why I don’t watch this rubbish!
It’s also half term for many children.
What are they thinking?

Watched it and yes I agree it was a totally unnecessary article. Children here on half term might be sitting with parents watching tv. Sex toys are not something to discuss with little children anytime in the day.

Exactly. Unnecessary.