JUNE 2004

New BBC Two Series – The Bank of Mum & Dad

Aged 21-35 and up to your neck in debt? Living a champagne lifestyle on beer money? Spending more each month than you earn?  Does this sound like you or someone you know? The Bank of Mum and Dad is a new BBC show where we'll challenge someone to change their lifestyle and live within their means so that they can start improving their financial situation.

Britain is a nation of debtors and the worst offenders are today’s generation of 25 to 35 year olds who are, on average, 15 grand in the red.  They're up to the hilt on their credit cards, with mounting bills and overdrafts are well over the limit.  Bank statements lie unopened and it’s time to go to mum and dad for another loan. But this time the Bank of Mum and Dad is closed for business but they will offer you help of a more radical kind.

Six volunteers will allow their mum and dad to move into their house for an intense week, taking complete control of every penny they earn.  They won’t be able to so much as think about money without first getting their parents’ approval.

In contrast with this generation of debtors, the parents’ generation never got into such financial hot water. Debt had a bad name in those days.  So why are their children so irresponsible about debt? Whatever the reasons, it’s a serious problem and as a nation we are so concerned by the prospect of mounting personal debt that a new initiative in Britain’s schools will see children taking classes in debt management and how to save money.

In a new series of programmes, BBC Two will explore what happens when inter-generational views on debt are forced together. So if you are an over spender or the Mother or Father of someone who is then contact us today to find out more on:

freephone 0800 032 7032

email BOMAD@bbc.co.uk

or text BOMAD and your full name to 83199 (standard text rates apply