The ‘Write Offs’ reaches 4.5 million viewers and is rated 4th in Channel 4’s top 50 programme
Before the lockdown we were told that the ‘Write-Offs’ programme would be aired in April 2020, so the wait began, what month would be appropriate to air the show?
The wait was over, the first episode was to be aired on September 22 following the ‘Bake Off’ programme. We were ready with text messages and calls beginning to come in. After watching the first episode, I retired to bed to watch the second episode. I was so impressed with the way the programme had been edited, it focused on the learners and their journeys. The activities used for the programme demonstrated to the audience the issues they faced in everyday tasks, such as applying for a job or having the confidence to speak to employers. Using public transport or making a shopping list to feed their family are all things we would find straight forward. Many of these everyday issues are taken for granted, but for those with learning difficulties, they can feel rejected and inferior to others they come into contact with. This was evident in the first episode where Craig talked about feeling a failure. Even before he had started, he felt that he would be left behind, a feeling that had been with him all his life.
Dean and Craig showed masterful strategies in finding their way to meet Sandi who was in a restaurant 30 miles away. They were unable to read the maps at the train or bus station, so they decided to rent a car, using a satnav. Genius!
As the week passed, we received such positive feedback from so many people. My neighbour had mentioned that she had taken her daughter to school and that the teachers were all talking about the ‘Write-Offs’ programme and how good it was. She then proudly told everyone that it was her neighbour who was on the programme. What a great way to gain recognition of the work we have been doing to be shared by the nation.
Looking at the Thinkbox top 50 programmes report from Channel 4 September 21 – 27 the total viewing audience over the week (including live, VOSDAL, time-shifted and total audience viewing figures) we ranked 4th just after ‘The Great British Bake Off’ and ‘Gogglebox’.
Everyone was watching to see how the learners developed. Paul story was especially sad, after being a teacher of English and drama, he suffered a stroke. He had lost his ability to read and write and was having to learn all over again. Craig was right when he said it was so much harder for Paul because his situation was life changing whereas the other learners had lived with dyslexia all of their lives. It was great to hear Martin Kemp share his story with Paul, giving him the advice to just keep going, never give up.
Half way through the programme Sandi Toksvig tweeted: “I’d like you to tune in to channel 4 now for the final of the ‘Write Offs’ – a show that has been my true honour to work with, shining the light on the issue of adult illiteracy across the UK” (4,706 hearts).
Then Dean tweeted replying to @sanditokvig @JHMLETMEOUT and @Channel 4: “Thank you for coming with us on our journey and being part of getting the conversation started on how we look at dyslexia. I loved every minute! And my life has opened up with new opportunities because of this show. Much Love!” – Everyone just went mad sharing and tweeting! Well done Dean. One reporter wanted to publish Dean’s whole speech:
‘Benjamin Franklin, who was dyslexic himself, said, “Tell me and I will forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I will learn.”
This quote makes sense to me when I look back at my time in school: in the English room, waiting for my work to be checked. We would have written about some book that I wasn’t interested in. My English workbook would be littered with red marks, spelling mistakes put right, missed grammar put in, but with no explanation as to why it was wrong. Was I missing something that everyone else was getting effortlessly?
Standing up in class and reading out loud filled me with anger and embarrassment. And it would end one of two ways, sitting down all red faced after what seemed like an hour of reading or being told to go to the principal’s office for acting up after hearing giggles, as I was stuck on a word that was simple to the others. This went on all the way through my English schooling, and I can never remember the teacher telling the other kids not to laugh, or telling them that it wasn’t my fault that I was dyslexic. I think this shaped the way I am today, thick skinned but, in day to day life, I shy away for anything to do with reading and writing. Even reading a book to my kids would put me back behind the eyes of that angry, confused kid.
My time with the amazing Rosemary, (my tutor on Channel Four’s ‘Write Offs’) has shown me that I can learn English, and at a fast pace, as long as it is put in a format that I can get involved in. Where was she for my 7 years of English classes as a child?
But for the first time in a long time I feel more engaged and alive with our beautiful language and, with every book I read with my children, I feel less of that angry, confused kid. I am, for the first time in my life enjoying learning English, and I am looking forward to continuing my learning after my time on ‘The Write Offs’.
Having reading and writing difficulties isn’t just my story. With 1 in 10 of us having dyslexia, and 1 in 5 of us being classed as functionally illiterate, there are a lot of us out there. But when I set out on this journey, I knew nothing of what being dyslexic really meant, only that I had it. I’d never been told of the great accomplishments of Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell who had a dyslexic brain just like me. Or that 50% of all NASA scientists are dyslexic too, and that’s just a really short list. Maybe I could have been a scientist if my head was full of these wonderful facts as a kid.
Did you know that there are a staggering number of young offenders with reading and writing difficulties? I can see how the anger and disconnection I felt towards my peers and teachers in school could have shaped my life’s decisions and sent me down the wrong path if it weren’t for good friends and family. On the other hand, did you know that 40% of the world’s self-made millionaires are dyslexic? That is a big difference in outcomes.
Now imagine if those young offenders were given a teacher like we have had. Someone to tell them that their big beautiful brain just thinks differently to everyone else’s and needs teaching in a different more involved way.
Someone to fill their heads with all the great people that have gone on to do wonderful things with their lives because of their brains and how they think differently.
My question to you is: Do you think we could stop wasting great minds? Do you think we could unlock the next Einstein?’
This programme with Sandi Toksvig has opened up the floodgates for people wanting to talk about low literacy and learning difficulties.
The Executive Producer for Shine TV, Lana Salah, has revealed the final consolidated ratings for both programmes on channel 4
- Across its two episode run, THE WRITE OFFS delivered a consolidated average audience of 1.61 million viewers with a market share of 8.6% – this was +28% higher than Channel 4’s primetime average.
- Performing exceptionally well among younger adults, THE WRITE OFFS delivered an average share of 16.9% for Adults 16-34, which was +93% up on Channel 4’s average.
- THE WRITE OFFS exceeded Channel 4’s average share across all key demographics: Adults 35-54 (+26%), ABC1 Adults (+30%), Housewives (+25%), Men (+8%) & Women (+35%).
- Across its two episodes, THE WRITE OFFS reached 4.5 million people (based on 3 minutes consecutive viewing).
Our learners are still the topic of conversation. Emily’s dream was to become a hairdresser which she achieved before start of the show. Her manager wanted her to take over his salon, but she felt that was too big a challenge for her. We spoke last week about her becoming a midwife. I spoke to one of my friends who is a nurse and he was so impressed with Emily when watching the show that he advised her to go to college/university where there would be so much support to help her to gain the qualifications, so watch this space.
The Cascade Foundation will be continuing to follow the learners and their great achievements.