Charlie Hedges and Holly Hagan-Blyth Open Up About the Realities of Modern Parenthood
Geordie Shore star Holly Hagan-Blyth admits she was unprepared for the whirlwind of becoming a first-time mother. The TV personality, now pregnant with her second child, reflects on her initial naivety, expecting to seamlessly work from home around her baby. "I didn't realise my child was going to need me to be directly staring into his eyeballs for the entire first 16 months of his life, so I couldn't get anything done," she shares, highlighting a common struggle many new parents face.
Navigating Diverse Parenting Challenges Through Podcasting
Hagan-Blyth, 33, co-hosts the CBeebies Parenting Helpline podcast with Radio 1 DJ Charlie Hedges, 39. Their weekly show features celebrity guests like Kelsey Parker, widow of The Wanted's Tom Parker, and author Anna Whitehouse, alongside parenting experts. Together, they delve into a wide range of topics, from grief and body image to fostering imagination and neurodiverse parenting. "We've covered a lot of amazing topics, and we feel like we've become better parents off the back of it," says Hedges, mother to three-and-a-half-year-old Summer-Rose.
The podcast serves as a supportive platform where both hosts and listeners gain insights. Hagan-Blyth notes, "It's just great to be able to share both of our experiences and real-life parenting dilemmas – I feel like we get more help than the guests." Hedges adds that their role is to provide balance and comfort, especially for those lacking family support systems. "We bring those people together and help them realise they're not on their own – it's just like a little family," she explains.
Practical Tips and Personal Growth from the Podcast
Both mothers have learned valuable lessons from hosting the show. Hagan-Blyth emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. "Your child is always going to be so different to somebody else's," she says, advising against judgment and trusting one's instincts. She credits the podcast with practical successes, such as potty training her son Alpha-Jax within weeks using tips from the show.
Hedges stresses the importance of trusting gut feelings, a lesson passed down from her mother. "As a new parent, that's easier said than done," she admits, but over time, she has found it to be the best approach. However, she acknowledges the overwhelm new parents face from conflicting advice. Hagan-Blyth warns to take advice with a pinch of salt, sharing her experience with a whingey baby phase that differed from her friends' children.
Balancing Motherhood with Career Demands
Juggling work and family life is another key theme. Hagan-Blyth, who is married to footballer Jacob Blyth, plans to continue working without maternity leave after her upcoming C-section. "I'll be filming the day before the C-section, during the section, the day after, and probably the week later as well," she reveals, driven by a desire to capture and share moments from her life of 16 years in the spotlight.
She advocates for organization and rejects mum guilt, stating, "Ultimately we're all working hard, whatever work looks like to you – you're working hard to provide for your child." Hedges, who hosts Radio 1's Dance Anthems, highlights her reliance on family support, noting that not all parents have such networks, making the podcast's community even more vital.
The CBeebies Parenting Helpline podcast is available weekly on BBC Sounds and other platforms, offering a blend of celebrity insights, expert advice, and relatable stories to help parents navigate the diverse challenges of raising children.
