Like many programmes in the recent Cutting Edge series, last month’s Strictly Baby Fight Club – which offered a rare insight into child Thai boxing – prompted a huge response from Channel 4 viewers, not only via Viewer Enquiries but also within the forums, where a debate about the programme was viewed over 16,000 times.
There were two recurring themes to this feedback – firstly, should young children be allowed to participate in this sort of sports and, if so, under what conditions? Some viewers say they feel strongly that Thai boxing should not be a sport for young children, and suggested to us that local authorities should be involved in regulating this type of contact sports.
The second question raised, particularly by those involved in Thai boxing, was whether Strictly Baby Fight Club fairly represented the general attitude of parents whose children are involved in Thai boxing, or whether it highlighted an extreme, but minority enthusiasm?
Several people that entered the forum debate immediately after the programme was broadcast thought that Channel 4 had done well to expose the involvement of young children in what they deemed to be an unsuitable sport. Others criticised the channel for apparently endorsing the sport through the decision to broadcast the programme in the first place.
If you are involved in a combat sport, or watched the programme and have a view, please feel free to comment below – all comments do get read and copied to the commissioning teams!
