We’re making a landmark series for Channel 4 about what life is really like for British families in this iconic year. While the attention of the world is on the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics this summer, most of us will be trying harder and harder to get by. Against this backdrop we’re hoping to tell the stories of inspiring, warm and engaging families - from all areas and backgrounds across the UK, living through these tough economic times.
We’d like to reflect the range of issues faced by families in 2012 – from redundancy, money worries and the need to find a new job, to fears about running a business and paying the rent or mortgage. We also hope to talk to people on benefit, to really understand the struggles they face. And to explore the pressures parents deal with - supporting their children, from new babies arriving home to school leavers and graduates, often struggling to find work. We’d like to talk to families about different relationship stresses too, perhaps how they cope with divorce, or find out what happens when the in-laws have to move in. Ultimately, we want this to be a definitive series looking at British family life, celebrating their resourcefulness, strength and even humour as they take on the challenges of this year.
We’re currently researching the series and I wondering if you might be interested in what we’re doing. We’re keen to spread the word and speak to as many different families structures as possible. It would be great to speak to parents of twins. Any conversations will be informal and confidential and do not commit people to taking part. Just so you know we know that these issues are often very sensitive for people and we are very experienced at working sensitively and collaboratively with people going through challenging times of their lives and take our duty of care very seriously.