Frank Cottrell-Boyce fears Britain has lost its childhood episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 17, 2026 · 52 MIN

Frank Cottrell-Boyce fears Britain has lost its childhood

from The New Statesman Podcast, Subscriber Only Edition

Children's laureate, screenwriter, author of Millions, architect of the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, and father of seven, Frank Cottrell-Boyce joins Oli Dugmore to discuss what childhood means in Britain today.   Over two years visiting schools, prisons and asylum hotels, he found a country that has quietly stopped looking after its youngest citizens. He talks about the NEETs crisis, furniture poverty, what summer holidays now mean to children who dread them, and why the most radical thing you can do for a child is sit on a sofa and read to them.

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Frank Cottrell-Boyce fears Britain has lost its childhood

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This episode was published on June 17, 2026.

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Children's laureate, screenwriter, author of Millions, architect of the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, and father of seven, Frank Cottrell-Boyce joins Oli Dugmore to discuss what childhood means in Britain today.   Over two years visiting schools,...

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