Supernanny is a British reality television programme about parents struggling with their children's behaviour, mealtime, potty training, etc. The show features professional nanny Jo Frost, who devotes each episode to helping a family where the parents are struggling with child-rearing. Through instruction and observation, she shows parents alternative ways to discipline their children and regain order in their households. Frost is a proponent of the "naughty chair" theory of discipline and is strictly opposed to hitting and spanking.

Supernanny
GenreReality
StarringJo Frost
Narrated byNick Frost
Theme music composerMoonshine Music
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes29 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production companyRicochet South
Original release
NetworkChannel 4
Release7 July 2004 (2004-07-07) –
8 October 2008 (2008-10-08)
Related
Jo Frost: Extreme Parental Guidance
Jo Frost: Family Matters
It's Me or the Dog

The programme aired on Channel 4 from 7 July 2004 to 8 October 2008. A follow-up programme titled Jo Frost: Extreme Parental Guidance ran from 9 February 2010 to 5 August 2012. Supernanny has been adapted in other countries, including an American version (also with Jo Frost).

History

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Supernanny was originally broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 on 7 July 2004, following the success of Channel 4's Cutting Edge programme "Bad Behaviour". Supernanny is one of Channel 4's most popular shows, reaching nearly 5 million viewers in the first series, with consistently high ratings throughout the series.

The premiere episode for the third series attracted 3.1 million viewers with a 14% audience share. These values are half of those from the previous two series.[1]

Reception

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In their book Handbook of Psychological Assessment, Case Conceptualization, and Treatment, Children and Adolescents, Michel Hersen and David Reitman state, "With considerable skill, Super Nanny Jo Frost implements standard, evidence-based contingency management procedures, as well as heavy evidence of creating alternative positive activity structures."[2] The show has had its critics, and not all child-care experts agree with her approach.[3][4] Some people find that the children's right to privacy has been violated[5] and that children are embarrassed when put on the "naughty step".[6] Newcastle University media and cultural-studies lecturer Tracey Jensen believes that the format results in the mother being "shamed before she is transformed".[5]

The show, viewed by six million people in its first year, was an "instant success." Shows were created in 48 countries by 2014 that were tailored after Supernanny.[3][4]

Home media

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A DVD release of Supernanny entitled When Little Kids Cause Big Headaches was released in the UK on 12 April 2010.[7]

Episodes

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Supernanny series overview[8][9]
SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
137 July 2004 (2004-07-07)21 July 2004 (2004-07-21)
2125 April 2005 (2005-04-05)5 October 2005 (2005-10-05)
3629 August 2006 (2006-08-29)3 October 2006 (2006-10-03)
4529 August 2007 (2007-08-29)26 September 2007 (2007-09-26)
5324 September 2008 (2008-09-24)8 October 2008 (2008-10-08)

International versions

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Supernanny has been broadcast or slightly adapted in other countries.

Country Title Network(s) Other networks
  Australia Supernanny Nine Network (2004–2013)
GEM (2011–2013)
Lifestyle Home (2011–2013)
  Belgium Supernanny vtm No other foreign networks applicable
  Brazil Supernanny SBT
  Croatia Superdadilja RTL (2006-????)
  Czech Republic Superchůva k pohledání
Chůva v akci
Prima televize
  China 超级育儿师 Anhui Satellite Channel
  Finland Supernanny Suomi MTV3
  France Super Nanny
Les Nannies
M6
TFX
TF1
  Germany Die Super Nanny (2004-2011)
Mission Familie (2014)
RTL Television
Sat.1
  Indonesia Supernanny MetroTV (Sunday noon)
  Israel Supernanny Channel 2
  Italy SOS Tata (2005–2012)
Supernanny (2021)
La7, Fox Life
NOVE, Discovery+, RealTime
  Lithuania Super Auklė TV1
  Malaysia Supernanny NTV7
  Netherlands Eerste Hulp Bij Opvoeden RTL 4
  Poland Superniania TVN
  Portugal Supernanny SIC
  Romania Supernanny Prima TV
  Russia Суперняня REN TV
  Singapore Supernanny MediaCorp Okto
  Slovakia Pestúnka TV Markíza
  Spain Supernanny
S.O.S. Adolescentes
Cuatro   TV3
  ETB 1
  Sweden Supernanny Sverige TV3
  United States Supernanny ABC (2005–2011)
Lifetime (2020)
  Nine Network
  Channel 4, E4
  W Network, Twist TV
  TV Markíza, Markíza Doma
  TLC
  United States Up TV

References

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  1. ^ Deans, Jason (30 August 2006). "'Mrs O' sees off Richard and Judy". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  2. ^ Michel Hersen; David Reitman (13 May 2008). Handbook of Psychological Assessment, Case Conceptualization, and Treatment, Children and Adolescents. John Wiley & Sons. p. 333. ISBN 978-0-470-17357-2.
  3. ^ a b Sean Macaulay (28 January 2010). "Jo Frost interview: How a nanny from South London went on to become an Oprah-approved, world famous, multimillionaire childcare phenomenon". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  4. ^ a b Gordon, Byrony (13 September 2014). "Jo Frost interview: The day Supernanny came to tea". The Daily Telegraph. UK. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  5. ^ a b Campbell, Alex (3 May 2013). "Six childcare gurus who have changed parenting". BBC News. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  6. ^ Duerden, Nick (8 September 2007). "Jo Frost: Nanny state". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Supernanny [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Supernanny (UK)". Channel 4. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Supernanny (UK)". Supernanny.co.uk.
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