A ten-part factual series offering practical advice and dramatic insights into the challenges of raising young children.
Consultant paediatrician Dr. Hugh Jolly and presenter Joan Shenton lead this instructional series designed for parents of children aged from six months to five years. Each programme addresses a specific topic, such as crying, hospital stays, or developmental milestones, using a mixture of documentary segments and dramatised vignettes. A resident company of actors, including Margaret Lawley, Lesley North, and Ian Bartholomew, perform in these sequences. The episodes conclude with Dr. Jolly leading a discussion with a studio audience of parents to examine the issues raised.
A sequel to the 1977 series All About Babies, this production continued ATV’s commitment to informative daytime programming for parents. The series’ authority was derived from its host, Dr. Hugh Jolly, a respected paediatrician known for his collaborative, patient-centred approach. He rejected the traditional, didactic style of medical broadcasting, instead fostering a discussion with a studio audience of parents to create a sense of partnership. By combining dramatised scenarios with expert analysis, the programme made its advice accessible and relatable, treating the concerns of parenthood with seriousness and practical empathy.
Broadcast: ITV – ATV, 10 Episodes, 18 June – 20 August 1979
Written by: Gail Renard
Director: Paul Martin
Producer: Paul Martin
Main Cast: Dr. Hugh Jolly (Himself), Joan Shenton (Herself), Margaret Lawley (Herself), Lesley North (Herself), Lynne Verrall (Herself), Ian Bartholomew (Himself), Lloyd McGuire (Himself)
