MEET THE HUGHES FAMILY!!! (The Family)

Member Name: KELLY170980

Product:	The Family
Date:	10/11/08 (1381 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Makes you realise that all families are similar..... laughter, tears, tantrums, love etc etc

Disadvantages: If you don't like programs like this you'll find it boring...my hubby was not that keen

I am gutted this program is now finished and also that the next series will involve a different family as The Hughes family were so hilarious to watch.

Basically this family agreed to be filmed for 24 hrs a day for weeks, sort of like an English version of the Osborne's without the celebs.
There were 8 episodes and it was to show the day to day goings on of the Hughes Family, it's the arguments, the love, the squabbles, the laughter its everything that every normal family go through but somehow I found this program addictive to watch and would recommend it to anyone whom is interested in fly on the wall documentaries or if you are like me a bit of a people watcher.


The family consists of

**Mum - Jane**

She is mum to four children, a grandmother to one and has been married to her husband Simon for 21 years and is only 39 years old.
She is not only a mother, grandmother, wife though as she also works for a charity and still manages to give her family a lot of care and attention as well.
She is a very attractive woman, and does not look her age in my opinion, and dresses really well, she is a bit head strong, and often clashes with one of her daughters Emily who I think is probably very similar to her. She is a really good mum and always tries to keep everyone together, she is not too good at backing up her husband sometimes when it comes to disciplining the children...but to be honest it's really funny to watch, as I think it will remind everyone of some aspects of their life.

**Dad - Simon**

Simon is 43 years old, and he was my favourite person in the show. He can be pretty strict sometimes, but he loves his children soooooo much and he is so in love with his wife even after 22 years of marriage. He is constantly telling them he loves them and cuddling them, especially his son....which I think is really nice as I think sometimes a lot of dads and sons get a bit embarrassed to do this at a certain age; their relationship is such a nice thing to watch.
He is a huge music fan also and always seemed to be humming songs, mainly jazz and blues songs as their his favourites.
He can play five different saxophones and plays them reeeeallly loud, which his children seemed to be embarrassed of, which I think is so silly I would be so proud of my dad if he could play as good as Simon can.

**Eldest daughter - Jessica**

She is 22 years old and has a little girl called Ruby 1 years old and a fiancée Pat
(She married him on the last show, was really lovely) she lives down the road from her parents and is a full time mum.

**Second oldest daughter - Emily**

She is a complete nightmare, although under it all she is probably a good girl. She is a party animal, and throughout the series she is always going out, sometimes she has a job sometimes she doesn't. Her dad and mum she feels are always getting at her...but they are not they just want her to grow up and stop being a silly little girl. She is often behind any arguments that go on in the house, but despite all this, they love her so much, and towards the end of the show I began to really like her and think she is a bit misunderstood.
**Third eldest - Charlotte**

She is the most well behaved I think out of the lot of the family, she is quiet and studies hard, as she is very intelligent and is currently studying for her baccalaureate. She works as well and does not go partying like her older sister Emily whom I think does create some sibling rivalry, as Emily thinks that Charlotte is favourite etc etc.
There is one show where Emily and Charlotte have a dance and sing off in the lounge, its so funny it reminds me of me and my sister when we were younger...we'd either be getting on like best mates, or tearing each others hair out...... but now we are best mates!!!

**Baby of the family and only boy Tom**

He is the baby of the family and is a typical teenager...he hates school...thinks everyone picks on him....hate homework...thinks he knows everything etc etc!!
He is mad on death metal music and it's always on full blast in his room.

Another of my favourite shows is when Tom has his ear pierced without asking his parents and then goes days trying to hide it under a hoodie or hat.... They eventually find out and make him take it out!!! And he finds every way he possibly can to still wear it.

Episodes guide

Episode One - Life begins at 40

Jane is getting nervous about her approaching 40th birthday and Emily calls in sick at work, but does not tell her mum, who bumps into her daughters boss...... as you can imagine her parents are not happy and sparks fly.

Episode Two - Secrets

Emily and Charlotte are keeping secrets from their parents and like all families....secrets do not stay secrets and mum and dad always find out.

Episode Three - Bedtime

Tom is shattered as he is not sleeping as he is watching TV, films, playing computer, listening to music etc etc and then does not want to get up in the morning...typical teenage behaviour!! Well he does not want to go to school so dad Simon steps in and makes sure that he not only goes to school but he now has to stick to a bedtime routine of lights out at 10. Simon and Jane go out and Emily is left in charge but goes a bit power crazy when it comes to enfourcing the bedtime on tom, they end up having a scrap and she takes his computer consoles and then calls her dad ...... total nightmare!!! But sooooo funny!
Episode Four - Valentines Day Massacre

This one was my favourite show; it shows how dad Simon is at his wits end with the kid's behaviour and does not think Jane is backing him up. This shows Emily coming in at the wee hours of the morning to find her dad putting all her stuff in bin bags..... Tom being cheeky to his dad in front of company and Simon then sending him outside instead of sitting in on the computer ...Jane does not like this ....and it all ends up in one big row...... they all make up though in the end!!

Episode five - Teenage Kicks

This episode seems to be a bit of a follow on from the previous episode really, Emily again being a pain and Jane and Simon having enough, al though they do stand united as much as they can..... but it becomes the situation of when they are torn whether to kick her out of the house as she is affecting the whole family.

Episode Six - The rules

Emily strikes again!!!! hehe...this time a big argument of who has taken mum Jane's skirt....again this then goes on to Emily's lack of respect and contribution to the home...but being a 19 year old, you can imagine her response to all this.

Episode Seven - The pierced ear

This episode is another of my fav's as watching young tom trying to hide the fact he has had his ear pierced is hilarious.

Episode 8 - Wedding vows

This is the final episode when we all say goodbye to the Hughes family and in a lovely way as we get to watch them celebrate the wedding of their eldest daughter Jessica. I cried my eyes out when Simon caught the first glance at his daughter in her wedding dress, he could not stop telling her how gorgeous she was but he had tears in his eyes because he finally realised that his little baby was all grown up and I think this really did affect him.


Al the episodes you can watch free on demand on channel4.com or if you have catch up TV.

Check it out, its really good, the only thing I am so disappointed about is that I really do like this family and the next series will involve another family not the Hughes, this does really leave you wanting more...you want to know if Emily ever turns into a responsible young lady.... If Tom keeps his earring...if mum and dad ever get a minutes peace...if Charlotte does well in her exams....if Jessica has a nice honeymoon etc etc.

Summary: Great to watch a normal family getting on with normal life. strangley entertaining!!