"Supernanny" Kid Sets Fire to Home

Posted Oct 2nd 2007 12:50PM by TMZ Staff

News flash! Reality TV shows won't solve every crisis! One family found out the hard way, when their wacky kid set fire to the family home -- after appearing on the TV show "Supernanny." Burn!

Supernanny Jo Frost -- who appears on both British and American versions of the show -- visited Paul and Susan Young and their five children in 2005 in their UK home. Frost attempted to help the Youngs tame their rambunctious boys, all under age 11, but mom said that appearing on the show made the kids behave worse and play up to cameras.


The fire appears to have been started by 3-year-old Joel while he was home with mother Susan, and his siblings were in school. Damage to the home was so severe that the family was forced to move into a hotel. Is "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" casting?!

The fire started in the kitchen, said Essex police officer Terry Hutton. As Young attempted to put the fire out, "the little boy went through the dining room and set fire to the curtains," reports the Daily Mail.

Filed under: Wacky & Weird


Tags: jo frost, JoFrost, supernanny

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1. creepy...

Posted at 12:32PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by Ceyllynn

2. AND HOW DID HE HAVE THE MEANS TO SET THIS FIRE?!!?!

Posted at 12:33PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by CrystalHasAnOpinion

3. Oh bloody hell!!!!

Posted at 12:33PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by Dawn Day

4. Yes, I'd be very interested to know what Mum was doing when a 3-year-old was able to find what he needed to start the fire in the first place. WTF??? What is it with these Brits who think it's OK to leave young children unattended? Don't be blamin' Supernanny!

Posted at 12:35PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by ...

5. It's not the Nannys fault that the parents have rotton kids and haven't taught them right from wrong...send them brats to boot camp!!!

Posted at 12:36PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by jeepwrangler_gal

6. BURN!!! BURN!!! BURN!!!

That was cool, hehe hehe hehe

Posted at 12:36PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by Beavis

7. Here's a suggestion for the mother. How about parenting your own children instead of relying on a reality show? Did you honestly think a reality television show would solve your problems? At three years old how does he have access to any fire source? Take the kids away from this woman before they end up another statistic.

Posted at 12:36PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by Kate

8. Sounds like these kids need something a little more severe then Super Nanny, how about boot camp, or a good old fashioned ass kickin ;)

Posted at 12:37PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by SH

9. there's a deep rooted problem in that kid. how did they learn that curtains burn? someone in that family has set fires before. tisk tisk

Posted at 12:37PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by bob

10. Typical of such a family to blame the SHOW. If one of my kids set fire to my house, the blame would reside with the face in my mirror. Supernanny gives awesome advice that all families can benefit from. From the sound of it, this little arsonist probably didn't get punished. Hope the parents are proud of themselves. Oh, and this is a family who's contributed FIVE kids to this world. Figures!

Posted at 12:39PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by Monica

11. A 3 year old arsonist? What the hell kind of inept parents are these??? They are so worthless that they need a tv nanny to help them raise their out of control kids? Kids aren't born that way - they are MOLDED into monsters by weak, ineffectual parents. I swear, there ought to be an application process in place to prevent morons from breeding!

Posted at 12:39PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by What a worthless set of parents!!

12. Give me a break. The mother blames Supernanny for her child acting out? What about taking responsibility for your child? If the 3 year old had access to something that could start a fire I'd start by blaming the parents!!!!!!

Posted at 12:39PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by Kristen

13. Typical dysfunctional parent...blame, excuses and denial. How about some personal accountability, Susan and Paul? How did a 3 year old get a hold of matches (or a lighter)? Jo Frost has sound, practical advice and techniques to help parents wrangle their wild ones. If they are incapable of following through and being consistent, they have nobody to blame but themselves. Back up the boo-hoo bus.

Posted at 12:40PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by Shar

14. where was mom when the darling 3 year old was setting the kitchen on fire????????

Posted at 12:40PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by liz

15. One more reason to support child abuse and daily beatings!!! Those little bastards would behave a lot more if those whimpy parents actually busted there ass for bad behavior!!

Posted at 12:40PM on Oct 2nd 2007 by Judgement Day

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