Embarrassing Bodies

Embarrassing Bodies
Current opening title sequence introduced in 2010
Genre	Medical
Presented by	Pixie McKenna Dawn Harper Christian Jessen
Narrated by	Ashley Jensen
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Steph Harris Dan Jones
Running time	47 minutes (excluding advertisements)
Original release
Network	Channel 4

Embarrassing Bodies (formerly Embarrassing Illnesses) is a British television programme broadcast by Channel 4 and made by Maverick Television since 2007. In 2011, a live show was introduced, "Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic", which consists of 47 minutes. Various spin-offs have been produced in relation to the prgramme to target different patients, such as Embarrassing Fat Bodies and Embarrassing teenage Bodies.

Purpose

The concept of the programme is showing members of the public obtaining treatment and advice for unusual, obscure or embarrassing medical issues that they are "too embarrassed" to go to a general practitioner about. As well as showing patients' visits to the doctor, the possible effects of certain people's occupations, such as cyclists or football players, is also shown. The programme has been hugely successful and has attracted vast numbers of people to visit the programme's website.

Development

Channel 4 has already worked with Kew Gardens on a database for natural plant remedies and medicines, and that was an online element of the Medicine Men series. The database invites contributions to the public and will eventually be turned over to Kew as a national, public resource. In a similar way, Embarrassing Bodies is the kind of engaging, accessible public health project that the NHS, arguably, should be doing. A quick scan of the discussion forums shows the kind of intimate but very real health concerns of viewers (some, it has to be said, reminiscent of Karen Krizanovich in Sky Magazine) and a well-observed demand for health advice that perhaps NHS Direct is missing.

The programme is narrated by Ashley Jensen. Actor Nick Thomas-Webster and Big Brother 8 contestant Shabnam Paryani featured as patients in the first series. Series 1 was named Embarrassing Illnesses, Series 2 was named Embarrassing Teenage Bodies, Series 3, 4 and 5 were named Embarrassing Bodies, and a one-off episode, "Embarrassing Old Bodies", was broadcast in January 2010. A new series, Embarrassing Bodies: Kids, was shown in April 2010. The sixth series of Embarrassing Bodies started on 28 January 2011.

In an interview with Digital Spy, Dawn Harper explained that the programme will save a large number of lives and will definitely encourage people to see their GP more often.

Embarrassing Bodies: Live From The Clinic

in May 2011, a spin-off series, Embarrassing Bodies: Live From The Clinic (titled "Diagnosis Live From The Clinic" in pre-publicity and the first episode) launched, enabling viewers to appear via webcams and Skype. The programme was presented by Christian Jessen and Dawn Harper, with additional narration and reports from Pixie McKenna. These episodes consist of 47 minutes

External links

• Embarrassing Bodies at Channel 4
• Live From The Clinic at Channel 4
• Embarrassing Illnesses at Nine MSN