Jim Bakkum, who participated in Idols at the age of 15 and came second, does not want his children to participate in The Voice Kids. He thinks that his daughter Posy (11) is not yet old enough for that.
Due to all the fuss surrounding The Voice of Holland, many parents are looking a lot more critically at their children’s possible participation in these types of shows. Jim Bakkum is also quite reserved. Although he once participated in Idols as a teenager, he cannot imagine his children participating in such a show at a young age.
The Voice Kids
Jim is on the same page with his beloved Bettina Holwerda about this, he says in the Story. “Now that they are a bit older, you really see their characters. Posy, the middle child, has our showbiz genes. She voices films and loves to dance. We also give her plenty of space in that. But I don’t think she needs to participate in The Voice Kids.”
Why not? “If she wants that in ten years, she can decide that herself. Then it will be the adult edition of The Voice.”
Madhouse
Eventually she will go that way, according to Jim. “Posy is already talking about participating in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Who am I to stop her if she really wants it? But I also know what she has to deal with.”
He continues: “I was fifteen when I took part in Idols. Jamai won, I came second. It was a madhouse. Fortunately, you didn’t have social media at the time. Now there is so much nastiness posted online.”
Step too far
Social media makes television exposure much more intense, according to Jim. “I want to protect my children from that. That is why we never portray them in a recognizable way. So then television is really a step too far.”
Jim and Bettina have three children together: Lux (13), Posy (11) and Molly (6).