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My Big Decision

Season 1 2009
TV-MA

  • 2009-07-15T23:00:00Z on BBC Three
  • 1h
  • 6h (6 episodes)
  • United Kingdom
  • Documentary
My Big Decision, a documentary series following five pairs of teenage girls facing similar and potentially life-changing decisions. Separated by age, culture and geography, but sharing the same all-consuming desires the girls go on a very personal journey of self discovery – but they're taking their mums and grans with them. Taking a break from everyday life, the six women embark on a five day road trip across the length and breadth of the UK, immersing themselves in the subject matter. From sex and pregnancy to binge drinking and plastic surgery, the teens are set to make a decision that could change the course of their lives. Britain's teenagers are growing up quicker than ever before, and they're making these adult decisions faster than their parents would like. But what if they had to face the reality of their teenage dream? Along the way, the families are introduced to a variety of people and situations that are designed to get the families talking openly and honestly and help inform their decision. Offering help and support throughout the experience, it's the last chance the older women have to persuade the teenagers to really think about making the right choice. From different generations, divided in opinion and disconnected from themselves these families try and find a road that can lead to a future they all agree on. The teens explore whether a baby is the answer in that search for unconditional love, if a boob job might help someone fit in or if peer pressure is a reason to lose your virginity. Ultimately the final decision must be right for each girl. But have the shared experiences had any affect on what they decide?

6 episodes

Series Premiere

2009-07-15T23:00:00Z

1x01 Pregnacy

Series Premiere

1x01 Pregnacy

  • 2009-07-15T23:00:00Z1h

Documentary which follows two teenage girls who are on the brink of making a big decision. Separated by age, culture and geography, but sharing the same all-consuming desire to have a baby, the girls go on a very personal journey of self discovery. But they are not going on their own - they are taking their mums and grans with them.

Taking a break from everyday life, six women embark on a five-day road trip across the UK, immersing themselves in the world of teen pregnancy. Offering help and support throughout the experience, it is the last chance the older women have to persuade the teenagers to think about making the right choice.

16-year-old Chantelle lost her virginity at 13. Having now been with her 20-year-old boyfriend for two years she is desperate for a child, but her mum Mandy and gran Maggie are against the idea. So why does Chantelle so desperately want to be a teen mum?

Only child Lydia is convinced she is independent enough to raise a child even though she is only 14 and doesn't have a boyfriend. Mum Josephine cannot understand why she wants to throw her teenage years, and her future, away.

Along the way, the families are introduced to a variety of people and situations designed to get them talking openly and honestly and help inform the teens before they make their Big Decision. Both families get to meet a real-life teen mum, visit a maternity ward and hear about the harsh reality of giving birth from a new mum. The teens get the chance to experience what it is like to be a parent when they are given a computerised baby to look after.

Finally, after five days on the road, have the experiences had an effect on the Lydia and Chantelle? Do they still want to have a baby and become a teen mum?

What will be their Big Decision?

2009-07-22T23:00:00Z

1x02 Boob Job

1x02 Boob Job

  • 2009-07-22T23:00:00Z1h

My Big Decision, part of BBC3's The Adult Season, continues with two teenage girls who are determined to have boob jobs and go on a personal journey of self-discovery along with their mums, gran and an aunt.

Taking a break from everyday life, the six women embark on a five-day road trip across the UK, immersing themselves in the world of breasts and plastic surgery. Offering help and support throughout the experience, it is the last chance the older women have to persuade the teenagers to think about making the right decision.

Thirteen-year-old Kianna has wanted a boob job ever since she can remember and is determined to go to America when she is 16 to have the operation. Since all her friends have begun to develop more quickly than her, Kianna has absolutely no body confidence and feels that she doesn't fit in. Her mum Sharon and aunt Angela delve deeper into the real reasons that mixed race Kianna wants the surgery.

17-year-old Katrina has low self-esteem and hopes plastic surgery will make her feel more confident about her body. She will get the money to pay for the operation when she turns 18, but mum Jules and gran Lola want to persuade Katrina not to go under the knife.

Along the way the families are introduced to people and witness experiences that are designed to get the teens talking openly and honestly and help inform their decision at the end of the trip. They meet a surgeon and observe a breast-augmentation procedure, discuss whether fake or real boobs are more beautiful with page three models, and get up close and personal with women who have chosen to have their breasts enlarged.

Finally, after five days together, have the shared experiences had any effect on what the girls decide?

2009-07-29T23:00:00Z

1x03 Sex

1x03 Sex

  • 2009-07-29T23:00:00Z1h

As My Big Decision, part of BBC3's The Adult Season, continues, this episode follows two teenage girls who are determined to lose their virginity.

Fifteen-year-olds Rhia and Shauny share the same all-consuming desire and go on a journey of self discovery - and they're taking their mums, gran and a family friend with them.

The six women embark on a road trip, immersing themselves in the world of sex. Offering help and support throughout the experience, it's the last chance the older women have to persuade the teenagers to really think about making the right choice.

Rhia has a close friendship with two boys, but feels pressure from her friends to take things further. Mum Jane and Gran Margaret want Rhia to do what's right for her and come to her own informed decision that's free from peer pressure.

Shauny has been in a relationship for four months and although she wants to wait until she turns 16, things often get heated. Mum Debbie wants Shauny to be prepared if things do move forward.

Along the way, the families meet people and witness experiences that are designed to get the teens talking openly and honestly and help inform their 'Big Decision' at the end of the trip.

The families take part in a sex education workshop, find out what a group of virgin teenage boys think about girls and sex and meet sexpert and ambassador for the Brook Sexual Advisory Service Tracey Cox, who gives them a frank account of what to expect from their first time.

They head to Amsterdam to meet a Dutch family with a teenage daughter to discuss their liberated views towards sex and, talk with a sexologist who encourages the mums to open up about their own first time experiences.

After five days, have the shared experiences had any affect on what the girls decide?

2009-08-05T23:00:00Z

1x04 Binge Drinking

1x04 Binge Drinking

  • 2009-08-05T23:00:00Z1h

The series following teenage girls facing potentially life-changing decisions introduces 17-year-old Jess, a self-confessed binge drinker.

As Jess sets off on a personal journey of discovery, she is not alone - she's taking her mum and gran along with her. Taking a break from everyday life, the three women embark on a five-day road trip across the UK, immersing themselves in the world of alcohol and binge drinking. Offering help and support throughout the experience, it is the last chance mum and gran have to persuade Jess to think about making the right choice.

Strong-willed and self-confident when sober, Jess says she is even bolder when drunk, and often consumes up to 100 units of alcohol in a weekend. Mum Jane believes Jess's attitude towards the bottle is concerning, and as a nurse she knows the damage that alcohol causes. However, despite her mum's warnings, Jess is intent on enjoying a boozy youth. Having been sober for years, nan Valerie's stance on drinking and how to enjoy oneself couldn't be further removed from that of her out-of-control granddaughter.

Along the way, the family are introduced to people and situations designed to get them talking openly and honestly and to help inform their decision. They meet a consultant liver specialist to examine a healthy and a damaged liver; visit an A&E department; speak to staff and residents of a 'wet hostel' in Leeds; and hear first-hand about the perilous effects of drink driving.

After five days on the road, has the experience had any affect on Jess's decision?

2009-08-12T23:00:00Z

1x05 Nip and Tuck

1x05 Nip and Tuck

  • 2009-08-12T23:00:00Z1h

Documentary which follows two teenage girls who are determined to have cosmetic surgery, specifically liposuction. Two teens in two different situations, but sharing the same all-consuming desire go on a personal journey of self discovery – and they are taking their mums and a family friend with them.

Taking a break from everyday life, the five women embark on a five-day road trip across the UK, immersing themselves in the world of cosmetic surgery and weight loss. Offering help and support throughout the experience, it is the last chance the older women have to persuade the teenagers to really think about making the right choice.

18-year-old Samm hates her stomach and dreams of having her body shape changed through liposuction. However, a traumatic childhood which has left her with a bad relationship with food is at the root of the problem. Mum Debbie starts her journey pledging to support Samm whatever her decision, but family friend Pauline is determined that Samm must learn to change her attitude to food and not just have surgery to solve the problem.

Travelling with Samm is 18-year-old Natasha and her mother Teresa. Natasha wants a range of cosmetic surgery, including liposuction and a boob job, to give her the body of a glamour model. She was teased at school and hopes that by changing her looks and getting into lads’ mags she will show her childhood bullies that she is better than them.

Along the way, the families are introduced to people and witness experiences that are designed to get the teens talking openly and honestly and help inform their ‘Big Decision’. They meet women who have lost weight naturally and through cosmetic surgery, and are introduced to celebrity fitness trainer Mark Anthony, who shows them how to lose weight naturally.

2009-08-22T23:00:00Z

1x06 Revisited

1x06 Revisited

  • 2009-08-22T23:00:00Z1h

As My Big Decision, part of BBC3’s The Adult Season, draws to a close, this final episode takes a look back at the journeys that some of the teenagers went on in a bid to make their big decision. In each episode, two teens took a break from everyday life and, along with their mothers and their grandmothers, embarked on a five day road trip across the UK, immersing themselves in the grown-up world of pregnancy, cosmetic surgery, sex and binge drinking. It was the last chance the older women had to persuade the teenagers to really think about making the right choice.

This edition catches up with Chantelle and Lydia, who were both desperate to have a baby; Riah and Shauny, who were thinking about losing their virginity; Kat, Kianna and Sam, who were unhappy with their bodies and wanted to go under the surgeon’s knife; and Jess, who binge drank 79 units of alcohol every weekend, which led to numerous, unprotected one night stands.

The teens relate what they are doing now and what they really thought about the radical road trip they shared with their families. Do they still stand by the decisions they made or have they gone ahead and done the things their mums and grandmothers were trying to persuade them against doing?

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