New BBC sketch comedy show 'Horne and Corden'...

[NW6Londonmum]

I don't know how many UKers visit this site but I'd like some thoughts on this.

A new comedy show is about to be broadcast. One of the characters is Janice who 'very publicly breastfeeds'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/horneandcorden/

Can you see this clip? If you can't it's about as bad as you can imagine - man in drag, large fake breasts, sexual behaviour while feeding, aggressive attitude.

This is the BBC not some cable channel. Every person in the UK who owns a television must pay a licence fee which pays for BBC production and administration.

[tessie]

Honestly, I don't think it's that bad. There are some women who are what I call conspicuous parenters and they are irritating. It doesn't matter if it's breastfeeding or singing a nursery rhyme, everything is done in a look at ME fashion. And from that brief clip that's what the character seems to be - of course I reserve the right to change my opnion on viewing the show!

At least James's mum has the right idea, telling him bf is natural. :

[Dahlea]

It tells me not available in my area =(

[PatienceAndLove]

Originally Posted by Dahlea

It tells me not available in my area =(

same

[Whispers]

I'm a license payer and I have no problem with it.

I think it's very hard to define what is appropriate or not appropriate to make fun of in a comedy/sketch show setting.

Homosexuals, different races and cultures, women, men, lawyers are all made fun or and some would say exploited in the name of comedy and no-one bats an eyelid. But as soon as it is about BF they need to stop.

Sorry I don't get it. I am totally a lactivist and I BF publically without any problems. But if we can't laugh at ourselves it's a sad, sad day.

I know many people will disagree but I've just renewed my license and I'm fine with that.

BTW I love James Corden, he's a scream!!

[mum21andtwins]

I cancelled our license because of the junk the beeb does its either gardening/diy or this "comedy" rubbish. Whilst there is far more offesive junk out there its hard enough to overcome the social nonsense that goes around and this just confirms this to the general public imo

Originally Posted by Whispers

I'm a license payer and I have no problem with it.

I think it's very hard to define what is appropriate or not appropriate to make fun of in a comedy/sketch show setting.

Homosexuals, different races and cultures, women, men, lawyers are all made fun or and some would say exploited in the name of comedy and no-one bats an eyelid. But as soon as it is about BF they need to stop.

Sorry I don't get it. I am totally a lactivist and I BF publically without any problems. But if we can't laugh at ourselves it's a sad, sad day.

I know many people will disagree but I've just renewed my license and I'm fine with that.

BTW I love James Corden, he's a scream!!

But then he isnot laughing at himself. I have noproblemwith an indian guy taking the mickey out of himself or a lawyer or whatever example you come up with I think its wrong for someone to take the mickey out of a group of people that (s)he is in no way connected to and doesn't truly have an understanding of

[calpurnia]

Originally Posted by mum21andtwins

I cancelled our license because of the junk the beeb does its either gardening/diy or this "comedy" rubbish.

did you get rid of your tv? 'cause i believe that if you have a tv you have to have a license.

& don't forget that it goes for the radio too!

re: matter in hand - i agree with whispers.

[mum21andtwins]

Originally Posted by calpurnia

did you get rid of your tv? 'cause i believe that if you have a tv you have to have a license.

& don't forget that it goes for the radio too!

re: matter in hand - i agree with whispers.

erm no you don't have to get rid of your tv and believe me i got plenty of threatening letters from the lovely tv license people to know what I can and can't do. talk about innocent until proven guilty.

[NW6Londonmum]

I have only seen clips so obviously need to see the full thing to really hold an opinion.
This show has a small audience on a small channel but don't you think it could have an effect on the confidence of a new mum feeding in public if it was to take hold? The 'bitty' catchphrase from Little Britain is still being said to extended breastfeeders.
If you were 17 and a new mum and all your mates were ffers and this was the image of public breastfeeding in the mind of your mates and your boyfriend and your family it would have a negative effect. Not all breastfeeders are confident lactivists. Some are genuinely terrified about feeding in public and will bring along a bottle to avoid doing so. If we lived in a society where women felt able to breastfeed in public confidently (as opposed to a society where fear of feeding in public is sometimes cited in surveys as a reason why some women don't feed as long as they want to) then comedy like this would be easier to tolerate. This is just another negative image of bfing on the scale.

I am not advocating censorship but I am allowed to be saddened by the way the media represents breastfeeding. I like James Corden. I think he's genius but it would be nice if an equivalent amount of minutes that these sketches will take could be devoted to breastfeeding being normal.