Parenting Hell – a pitch to the non-parents

April 2020 was a bleak time for all of us. Locked indoors, binge-watching Netflix and occasionally gracing a Microsoft Teams call—as most students will recall— got boring eventually.

For working parents of young children, however, the era may stand out as one of the greatest challenges of their lives. With childcare centres and schools shut, many found themselves forced into the role of teacher, entertainer and full-time caregiver overnight, all while juggling their own work and responsibilities.

Comedians (and, more importantly, parents) Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe had their own answer to the chaos: a podcast. Thus, Lockdown Parenting Hell—later shortened to just Parenting Hell—was born. Uploaded bi-weekly, it serves as an outlet for their grievances about the unpredictability and sheer exhaustion of raising young kids, and as a goldmine of hilarious child-rearing disasters, further fuelled by celebrity guests and listener correspondence.

A 90-minute deep dive into the trials and tribulations of parenthood doesn’t exactly scream student essential.

I’ll admit, it’s a response to “Do you listen to any podcasts?” that has raised a few eyebrows. A 90-minute deep dive into the trials and tribulations of parenthood doesn’t exactly scream student essential. Yet, more often than not, it’s my go-to evening entertainment. Perhaps there’s a sociological appeal; the (slightly) older Millennial generation raising the (slightly) younger so-called ‘Gen Alpha’ in a world where technology is more pervasive than it ever was in our childhood makes for a compelling study. 

Take, for example, the contrast between Widdicombe’s relatively tame ‘stiff neck’ Devonian upbringing—described in a recent episode as “middle class with no money”—and Beckett’s rougher East London childhood. Their different backgrounds provide ample material for comedic reflection, as they often discuss the disparities in their experiences growing up and their ascensions to the hipster-ish Hackney living of the Widdicombe family or Beckett’s move towards a more peaceful rural life.

Even for those unconvinced by the podcast’s schtick, its focus on how family life fits around the high-profile careers of their celebrity guests offers a fascinating insight into the realities of working in media, sport or other industries.

Few things make you more grateful for your own independence than hearing about the sheer frustration of trying to leave the house with a toddler.

Of course, there’s also an undeniable element of schadenfreude in the podcast’s appeal. Few things make you more grateful for your own independence than hearing about the sheer frustration of trying to leave the house with a toddler. If you want to appreciate the bliss of an uninterrupted supermarket trip or a hassle-free commute, Parenting Hell is the podcast for you.

Although their audience largely lauds the fathers’ commitment, some critics have suggested the two have benefitted from simply doing the ‘bare minimum’ of parenting responsibilities

Nevertheless, the podcast’s anecdotes are inevitably filled with references to the pair’s extensive work in stand-up comedy and TV, often spending lengthy periods of time away from home. It is a disconnect that has seen the podcast subject to some criticism. Although their audience largely lauds the fathers’ commitment, some critics have suggested the two have benefitted from simply doing the ‘bare minimum’ of parenting responsibilities whilst much higher standards are expected of women.

In an interview with the Guardian in 2021, Beckett joked that, for mothers, listening to the two dads discuss their week was like “going behind enemy lines.” Nonetheless, analytics do suggest the podcast’s listenership is predominantly female.

Perhaps in an attempt to offer their long-suffering wives, Rose and Louise, a right of reply, the duo have invited them onto the podcast for occasional guest appearances—offering an entertaining counterpoint to the hosts’ grumbles in episodes that often rapidly cement themselves as fan favourites.

Since its launch in 2020, Parenting Hell has become a juggernaut, consistently ranking among the UK’s most popular podcasts. By 2022, it had amassed over 50 million downloads, and the duo—along with their podcast network, Keep It Light Media—secured a lucrative exclusive deal with Spotify.

For a podcast that began as two mates – albeit with pre-existing healthy television careers – venting about the chaos of child-rearing, its meteoric rise is impressive. But perhaps Parenting Hell’s real success lies in its broad appeal—whether you’re a frazzled parent seeking solidarity or a student procrastinating a deadline, there’s something oddly comforting about hearing two comedians admit they don’t have a clue what they’re doing either.