''Embarrassing Bodies'' (formerly ''Embarrassing Illnesses'') is a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

BAFTA Award-winning medical

reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...

programme broadcast by

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...

and made by

Maverick Television Maverick Television is a television and media production company. Notable Maverick programmes include the health brand ''Embarrassing Bodies'', the make-over shows '' 10 Years Younger'' and ''How to Look Good Naked'', and the documentary seri ...

since 2007. In 2011, an hour-long live show was introduced, "Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic", which makes use of

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technology. Various spin-offs have been produced in relation to the programme to target different patients, such as ''Embarrassing Fat Bodies'' and ''Embarrassing Teenage Bodies''. The series' basic premise involves members of the public with a wide variety of medical conditions consulting the show's doctors for advice; in some cases, cosmetic or corrective surgery has been offered and undertaken to treat patients with more severe or noticeable ailments. The programme's consultant is UK Registered

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and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist Rebecca Spelman The Commissioning Editors were Adam Gee and Kate Teckman. The show was revived in 2022, with the new series debuted on 19 May 2022 featuring a new cast of doctors.

Format

Throughout its numerous series, ''Embarrassing Bodies'' has set out to aid people who have a variety of medical issues. These issues tend to be taboo or misunderstood. With the help of its patients and the diagnoses of its doctors, the show tries to make common medical issues—especially those that are "embarrassing" or sexual—understood, and to debunk myths surrounding them. The programme's method of tackling these issues has caused great success and has attracted large numbers of people to its website.

Presenters

Numerous specialist doctors have appeared regularly throughout the show, such as

Asim Shahmalak Dr Asim Shahmalak (born 2 April 1961) is a British hair transplant surgeon, broadcaster, and proponent of such surgery. He performed the UK's first eyelash transplant in 2009, and has treated a number of British celebrity patients. Shahmalak be ...

who appeared on the show to talk about and demonstrate his hair transplant techniques. Mr

Shaw Somers Shaw may refer to: Places Australia *Shaw, Queensland Canada * Shaw Street, a street in Toronto England *Shaw, Berkshire, a village * Shaw, Greater Manchester, a location in the parish of Shaw and Crompton * Shaw, Swindon, a suburb of Swindon ...

, a specialist gastrointestinal and bariatric surgeon, would regularly discuss obesity and also perform surgery on patients with obesity-related diseases during ''Embarrassing Bodies'' as well as ''Embarrassing Fat Bodies''.

Series

As the show grew in popularity, ''Embarrassing Bodies'' created a common theme throughout some of its series, dedicating whole series to a certain group of society, such as children, overweight people and teenagers. Series 3 saw the return of the mobile clinic, a common setting for the show. It also saw the beginning of ''Embarrassing Bodies: Back to the Clinic'', which would see ex-patients from the series returning to the clinic to discuss how life has been since their last visit. Series 4 started with a special episode, which saw the team based in Spain. The fourteenth episode of Series 5 saw a one-hour live special, during which patients would send in pictures or videos via email, social media or Skype and specialist doctors would try to diagnose the issue and then follow-up the patients. The final episode of Series 6 was dedicated to cancer and was entitled ''

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''. Series 7 consisted of three specials named ''The Man With Half a Face'', ''Penis Special'' and ''The 36-Stone Woman''.

Main series

Specials

Although specials are considered series in their own right, they tended to be intertwined with the main series.

Awards

EB has won two BAFTA awards: *2009 Award for Interactivity Online *2010 Award for Interactive Creative Contribution EB was nominated for the 2013 National Television Award for Factual Entertainment.

''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

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and

. The programme was presented by Christian Jessen and Dawn Harper, with additional narration and reports from Pixie McKenna. These episodes consist of approximately 47 minutes.

International versions

''Embarrassing Bodies Down Under''

In October 2013, an Australian version of the show was launched on LifeStyle You. The show's first series comprised eight episodes, which were hosted by doctors

Ginni Mansberg Ginni Mansberg (born 1968 in Sydney, Australia) is a General Practitioner and television presenter in Australia. She is best known for her frequent appearances on Channel Seven's morning TV shows ''Sunrise'' and '' The Morning Show'', and as ...

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, and Sam Hay. The show's layout is similar to its British counterpart and focuses on the health issues of various Australian citizens. In 2015 the show was broadcast on the

Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...

''Dit is mijn lijf''

A Dutch spin-off version of the show called ''

Dit is mijn lijf DIT or dit may refer to: People * Dit name, an alternative family name, e.g., in French Canadian historical traditions * Dit Clapper (1907–1978), Canadian ice hockey player Information technology * Directory information tree * dit (unit), ...

'' (''"This is my body"'') was broadcast on

RTL4 RTL 4 (Radio Télévision Luxembourg 4) is a Dutch free-to-cable television channel; it is the most-watched commercial station in the country, popular especially with those aged between 20 and 49. RTL 4 is a general entertainment channel with in ...

from 26 October 2011 and ran for three series. In the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, the British version was aired on

RTL5 RTL 5 is a Dutch free-to-cable television channel that was launched on 2 October 1993. It mainly broadcasts American films and hit series but also reality shows, comedy, travel, international shows and local productions including ''Expeditie Robi ...

under the title of ''Gênante Lijven'' (''"Embarrassing Bodies"'').

''Я соромлюсь свого тіла''

A Ukrainian spinoff of the show called ''Я соромлюсь свого тіла'' (''"I'm ashamed of my body"'') has been broadcast on

STB State Security ( cs, Státní bezpečnost, sk, Štátna bezpečnosť) or StB / ŠtB, was the secret police force in communist Czechoslovakia from 1945 to its dissolution in 1990. Serving as an intelligence and counter-intelligence agency, it d ...

since 6 March 2014.

''Я стесняюсь своего тела''

Russian TV channel U, which broadcast the Ukrainian version of the show, made the Russian adaptation in 2019. The Russian name of the show is ''Я стесняюсь своего тела'' (''"I'm ashamed of my body"'').

Reception

Channel 4 aired a version of the series where Dawn Harper went to

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

and provided information on how to stay healthy while abroad. Christopher Hooton of ''

Metro Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to: Geography * Metro (city), a city in Indonesia * A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center Public transport * Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urba ...

'' said that it provided some "incredibly sensible tips on staying healthy while travelling".

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, id=1039201, title=Embarrassing Bodies
Embarrassing Bodies: Kids at Channel 4Embarrassing Bodies at ninemsn
2007 British television series debuts 2015 British television series endings 2000s British medical television series 2010s British medical television series Channel 4 original programming Television shows about diseases and disorders Television series by All3Media English-language television shows