The Sex Inspectors was a late night UK TV show that focuses on sex therapy for couples facing difficulties with their relationship. The show, presented by Tracey Cox and

Michael Alvear Ernest Michael Alvear is an American author, columnist, blogger and media personality. Alvear co-hosted the international TV series '' The Sex Inspectors''. Television Alvear co-hosted the television show '' The Sex Inspectors'' with British ...

, aids couples by suggesting different ways to spice up their relationships and sex lives. The show aired at 11pm on

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

, and each series usually consisted of 3 to 4 episodes, with the series finale being a special episode devoted to revisiting the couples featured on the series. Two subsequent series aired in 2005 and 2007. On the first visit, heat-sensitive cameras and CCTVs are installed throughout the house, allowing Tracey and Michael to monitor the couples' lives. After a few days of monitoring, the presenters then go back to the couples to tell them what they are doing wrong and what needs to be improved. British production company,

Talkback Talkback or talk back may refer to: * ''Talkback'' (album), a 1983 album by the Canadian band the Spoons * ''Talk Back'' (Kembe X album), 2016 *Talkback, an alternate name for Marvel Comics superhero Chase Stein * Talkback (recording), an audio ...

produced the show

Format

Despite the show's 11 pm slot, the show's content had to adhere to Ofcom guidelines. Therefore, the show did not show any penetration and the show depicted graphic acts such as

fellatio Fellatio (also known as fellation, and in slang as blowjob, BJ, giving head, or sucking off) is an oral sex act involving a person stimulating the penis of another person by using the mouth, throat, or both. Oral stimulation of the scrotu ...

using heat-sensitive cameras.

Reception and criticism

Channel-4 released figures claiming that the show drew 1.9 million viewers, double the usual number of viewers for that particular time slot. Leading sex therapists from the U.K. criticised the show, saying that it could cause viewers psychological damage. Much of their criticism centred around Tracey Cox the broadcaster and writer who acted as an advisor on The Sex Inspectors with Dr Petra Boynton from the University College London, claiming that Cox was dabbling in complex areas which "should be left to the experts". While British psychologist

Phillip Hodson Phillip Hodson (born April 1946 in Bedfordshire) is a British psychotherapist, broadcaster and author who popularised ‘phone-in’ therapy in his role as Britain's first 'agony uncle'. His afternoon and evening counselling programmes ran on LBC ...

expressed concern that the show did not accurately represent what counts as normal sex. The show's presenters adopted an authoritative tone and used terminology akin to that of professional sexual therapists to validate their supposed expertise. The presenter's matter of fact style led some academics to label the show as dangerously misleading.

References

External links

Channel 4's ''Sex Inspectors'' microsite
* 2004 British television series debuts 2004 British television series endings 2000s British reality television series British dating and relationship reality television series English-language television shows Television series by Fremantle (company) {{UK-reality-tv-prog-stub