Little Charlotte Goldsmith is set to be a television star for the next 20 years.

She will be part of an extraordinary BBC documentary which will allow the nation to watch her grow up before its very eyes.

Charlotte was one of 25 babies born at the start of the new millennium chosen to be part of a ground-breaking study into what influences the development of children as they grow up.

Leading fertility expert Lord Robert Winston, who previously presented The Human Body, will be keeping tabs on the children into adulthood to find out what really affects a baby's personality.

In Child of Our Time, he will try to answer the age-old question of whether a child's development is genetically predetermined by information passed on to it from its parents in the genes, or whether the outside influence of the social environment plays its part.

Charlotte's mum Emma Goldsmith, 25, of Friars Court, Colchester, said: "The study will follow Charlotte as she grows up into an infant and over the next 20 years.

"The babies come from all over the UK and from all walks of life."

Since Charlotte, now 18 months old, was chosen for the study, she along with the other babies have been involved in a series of investigations and tests which have culminated in three programmes, the first of which will be screened today (Wednesday).

"It is a fantastic programme," said Mrs Goldsmith, who has two other children, Tyler, two, and Reece, six.

"It is so good to learn so much about your own child and to know whether what is in their genes will make them like you.

"It is so interesting to read about and the experiments are fascinating. They can take a photographic image of Charlotte and alter it so I can see what she might look like when she is my age."

But Mrs Goldsmith, as yet remains undecided as to whether it will be "nature or nurture" which shapes her daughter's future.

"Charlotte has had quite a difficult life so far. I split with my husband, Paul, last year so it has been a difficult time.

"The way she is now has a lot to do with her genes and a lot to do with the environment she is in, so I have not been swayed either way yet."

Mrs Goldsmith said her husband still plays a very active part in the programme, which includes the break-up of their relationship and the effect this might have on Charlotte.

And she is undaunted by the prospect of having a television crew and the eyes of the nation as part of the family for the next 20 years.

"Charlotte has been put through her paces and has adapted really well," she said.

"The team come around once a month for the day. It is not intrusive in our lives at all.

"We know when they are coming and just put that day aside. The team working on the programme are fantastic.

"I can't wait for the programmes to be on the television. We have seen a preview and it is really fascinating."

Child of Our Time will be screened on BBC 1, at 9pm today (Wednesday)

Little star - 18-month-old Charlotte Goldsmith, who will feature in a BBC television documentary, with her mum Emma.

Picture: STEPHANIE MACKRILL

By Lisa Cockrell

Reporter's e-mail: lisa_cockrell@thisisessex.co.uk

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