Words (and chat) from Nailsea mum

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A former Nailsea School student has landed a second series of her own irreverent television chat show.

Maybe not quite on par with Graham Norton or Vanessa Feltz...yet...but our own Zeena Moolla is making a name for herself in front of the camera on the Made TV Network which is attracting four million viewers every month.

With celeb guests, parenting chat and, most importantly, plenty of wine, the new series of Word to the Mothers is a must-watch for any mum in need of a laugh and some honest conversation..

Starting Tuesday, January 9, at 8pm across the network, the new nine-part series, inspired by the same-titled mum blog, will see North Somerset host and journalist, Zeena joined by special guests, including Good Morning Britain’s Richard Arnold; CBeebies’ Ferne Corrigan; and Lorraine Kelly’s resident chef Dean Edwards.

Zeena, aged 44, who lives with partner Pete and their two pre school children in Long Ashton said: "The aim of the show is to debunk the parenting myths, with some candid chat and a much-needed sense of humour.

"Some people really liked my cursey, testy sense of humour – The Mirror, Good Housekeeping, The Sun, Bristol Life, Netmums, shotdeadinthehead and KidRated, among them - some people were less keen.

"A few trolls said I was a shit mum and the NCT, having initially asked me to write something for them, declared that on reflection, perhaps my blog was ‘not on-message’ for the NCT." 

"On the tv show we discuss everything from surviving soft play, to the merits of mums as UN ambassadors which would, we decided, basically entail putting a few world leaders on a time out, and dishing out Freddo Frogs for good behaviour…

“In short, Word to the Mothers should feel a mum mate – the type who would never judge if you brought a shop-bought cake for the school bake sale, or if your ‘handmade’ World Book Day costume was courtesy of Amazon Next Day delivery.

"Instead, Word to the Mothers is more the type of mum mate to pour you a glass of wine, and share a story about the time she rocked up at the school gates on an inset day, just to make you feel better about your own parenting…”  

Zeena grew up in Hillcrest Road, Nailsea during the 1980s and says she spent most of her youth peering self-consciously out of a big, lacquered fringe, dreaming of a life beyond the vicinity serviced by the 354 Badgerline bus service.  

She said: "Like a lot of kids growing up in a small town, I had a love/ hate relationship with Nailsea.

"Getting served in The Royal Oak felt like the teenage holy grail, and in the meantime, there was a lot of time killed buying sweets in Somerfield and affecting adulthood with a nasty cup of coffee in the Golden Spur. 

"After fleeing to the more exotic climes of university life in Sunderland, followed by 13 years living in north London, Nailsea is, of course, wrapped in nostalgia now.

"My Saturday job in Chantelle, the clothes shop where the new, fancy M&Co currently stands, provided me with the cash and freedom to spend happy Friday nights at Wraxall Youth Club, sporting new bat-winged tops.

"I believe there should be a plaque where Boots Opticians is now, in honour of the apple doughnuts its predecessor Mountstevens Bakery used to do.

"And my first sip of a (legitimate) pint of cider in the Oak is probably the sweetest sup to date.

"I moved to Long Ashton in 2014, and every time I go to Nailsea to see my dad or do a bit of shopping up the precinct, its familiarity and warmth genuinely fills with me with happy memories.

"But I can’t pass the Oak without feeling like I should be wearing more make up, and hastily calculating a fake date of birth in my head…

“I was really touched by the response to series one! I received so many messages and comments from people saying how much they’d enjoyed it, which is amazing to hear and I am hoping series two has the same response."

Tune in on Tuesdays at 8pm to Made in Bristol on Sky Guide 117, Freeview 7 and Virgin 159. You can watch live or catch up online at www.madetelevision.tv/live.