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Foxtel commissions Embarrassing Bodies Down Under

LifeStyle YOU has announced a local version of British medico factual, Embarrassing Bodies with Dr Christian Jessen.

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2013-05-17_1048Foxtel has announced a local version of British medico factual, Embarrassing Bodies.

To be (ironically) titled Embarrassing Bodies Down Under it will be produced by Shine Australia and feature Dr Christian Jessen from the UK series.

Hosted in the UK by the renowned Dr Christian Jessen, Embarrassing Bodies is an award-winning show that tackles obscure medical conditions people are too embarrassed to talk to their doctor about. The series currently airs in more than 100 markets around the world (including Australia on Foxtel’s LifeStyle YOU), with local versions produced in Belgium, Holland, France and now Australia.

In a major coup, Dr Christian is coming to Australia to appear in the new series.

The charismatic presenter, who also appears on the successful series Embarrassing Illnesses and Supersize Vs Superskinny, trained in general medicine, infectious disease, travel medicine and sexual health/HIV, graduating from University College London in 2000.

He now practices at Doctorcall, on the world famous Harley Street in London, looking after general medical and sexual health patients and will join Foxtel’s expert team of GPs as they dispel myths and break down the taboos surrounding these blush-inducing conditions.

“I’m very much looking forward to once more pulling on the rubber gloves and having a good delve down under!” Dr Christian Jessen said today.

“Australia is the perfect location for this new series and I can’t wait to bring Embarrassing Bodies and its unique way of spreading important health messages to the Aussies in their own version!”

Hannah Barnes, Foxtel’s Head of Programming and Commissions – LifeStyle Group, said: “Embarrassing Bodies is one of LifeStyle YOU’s most successful properties, so it is a huge win for Foxtel not only to have secured the rights to a local version, but also to have Dr Christian involved in this new production.”

“Embarrassing Bodies is a groundbreaking lifestyle format that has become a global hit. The franchise continues to grow here in Australia in terms of ratings, which shows that Aussies are more than ready for a local version” she said.

Embarrassing Bodies Down Under will be produced by Shine Australia exclusively for Foxtel’s LifeStyle YOU channel, with production on the series to commence next month.

Mark Fennessy, CEO, Shine Australia, said: “Embarrassing Bodies has become a health and lifestyle phenomenon in the UK. Together with the fabulous Dr Christian and a talented team of local Doctors we look forward to making it appointment to view television for the Australian audience.”

Just like its UK counterpart, Embarrassing Bodies Down Under will feature an array of highly embarrassed patients, young and old, who suffer from visually shocking and personally mortifying conditions, and are all desperate for some much needed medical attention.

The series will give an intimate insight into both the sufferer’s treatment and their attempts to cope with the emotional and psychological impact of their illnesses.

LifeStyle YOU is already looking for new patients to treat in the first series of Embarrassing Bodies and you can apply here.

10 Responses

  2. Can someone please resolve a disagreement in our house about this show. Are the people paid to go on this show and show the world their issues??

  3. The first season, Embarrassing Illnesses, they actually tried to promote public health.

    After that though, it largely became offering people free surgery if they would appear nude on camera.
    It you have seen one episode you have seen them all.

  4. I really never understood this show. Someone too embarrassed to go to their doctor, but they are willing to go on TV so that all their family and friends know what’s wrong with them.

  5. ‘Embarassing Bodies Down Under’. Seriously, who would immediately think Down Under refers to Australia the first time you hear it? What’s wrong with just ‘Embarrassing Bodies Australia’? It must have been deliberately titled so.

  6. David – Fair point on all accounts. However, and please correct me if I’m wrong on the following: UKTV’s Dripping in Chocolate was a telemovie and not a series and Top Of The Lake was it’s only locally produced and screened TV series (which wasn’t even entirely local); Showcase’s last original TV series was Tangle, and now that Foxtel owns Showcase there has been no news of additional local content; and since the forced foreclosure of Movie Network 365 was forced into cancellation. But what I don’t understand is why we can have channels owned by NBCUniversal, CBS, Sony, and FIC, easily the biggest media companies in the world, and yet the only one to really do any local productions is TV1 (Killing Time, Stupid Stupid Man) yet years in between series. I think it’s about time the government went Canadian on STV and spent big money and forced a quota similar to that currently for FTA networks so we actually have a media industry invested in instead of outsourcing everything.

    1. Josh it depends how far you want to go. If you go back as far as Stupid Stupid Man then its only right to acknowledge The King, also on TV1. Dripping in Choc was a telemovie yes. UKTV has also done others, but again how far back do you want to go? STV drama channels must spend about 10% of their budget regardless of ownership.

  7. How is it that Foxtel seem to produce around 5 reality series a year and yet Wentworth is their first drama since Slide was on FOX8 (2011)? It honestly can’t be that expensive to commission a sitcom on Comedy and a teen targeted drama/comedy on FOX8. And why is it that the remaining entertainment channels are owned by international companies that seem to produce no local content (reality or drama)? Please tell me I’m not the only person to see these major flaws in Australian subscription TV.

    1. UK TV produced both Top of the Lake and Dripping in Chocolate. Movie Networks did Conspiracy 365.Showtime had Cloudstreet and Tangle. Foxtel O&O channels did Slide and after a fair break Wentworth. Return to Devils Playground and a Gallipoli drama are next. I agree Foxtel was too quiet for 2012 but I don’t agree those dramas come cheap.

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