Undercover Doctor uncovers bias

In Channel 4’s usual Tuesday night “odd/controversial documentary slot” this week was Undercover Doctor: Cure Me, I’m Gay. Led by Dr Christian Jessen from Embarrassing Bodies, the program intended to investigate various “gay cures,” and even featured Dr Jessen trying a few of themselves.

Dr Christian investigates controversial “gay cures.” Photograph: Mark Johnson

The show saw Jessen investigate various “cures” and therapies used in both the past and present, including a trip to the United States’ bible belt to investigate the more recent of the treatments.

It was an interesting documentary, especially where it showed the horrific methods that were, at one point, used on the NHS. There was a particularly harrowing therapy that had Jessen look at explicit pictures of men while listening to a recording of someone trying to discourage his homosexuality. Jessen had to ingest a glass of some kind of sickness-inducing drink, and was told to throw up where he sat. His reaction showed just how horrifying it must have been for someone to go through the therapy, and was difficult to watch.

That is, unfortunately, where the positive aspects of Cure Me, I’m Gay ends. The male-centric show (can you even cure lesbianism? Who would know!) had one fatal flaw: it lacked objectivity. Jessen looked upon each test with contempt even before trying them.

In spite of of the documentary’s interesting topic, it had a problem that is almost obligatory to all Channel 4 documentaries – the question being asked was answered before the actual investigatory aspect began. In this case, it was obvious from the offset that Jessen did not believe any of the cures would work for him, and this was evident throughout.

Save that, it was evidentially just a vehicle for Channel 4 to show the ridiculously buff Dr Jessen with his top off. Get it together, Channel 4.

Katie Campbell

Strippers attempts to bare all

Channel 4’s latest ‘controversial’ documentary, Strippers hit our screens on Tuesday night in an attempt to remove the overwhelming stigma behind the stripping industry.

The first episode kicks off in Glasgow, focusing on the popular strip club, Diamond Dolls and their strippers. They show the struggles the girls face working in the industry but also the fun, appealing aspects of the business.

Strippers attempted to combat the controversy surrounding stripping. (Channel 4)

A touching part of the show doesn’t come from the dancers but from regular punter, Colin. He reveals that following his cancer diagnosis, the strip club offered a family-like support system to him. In return, when he visits, he brings chocolate to keep the girls going on a busy shift.

While this show is supposed to help broaden our minds to the idea of stripping, the message mainly fell flat. The classic ‘no exploitation here’ line is used by the club’s ‘house mother’ Shelley, quickly followed by some scenes of private, erotic dances rendereing her point entirely useless.

The show also shows the hopelessness of their predicaments, highlighting some of the dancers’ inability to reach their monetary goals. Laefena, a trained nurse from Estonia, longed to make enough money to pay off her nursing debts, but sadly left Glasgow with only £1000.

Kim, a girl dying to get out of the industry ultimately stays despite getting a full-time job claiming the industry just too addictive to leave.

Danielle spent much of her career hiding the job from her parents. After much anticipation she plucks up the courage and confesses to her family, after which she no longer wishes to participate in filming.

Ultimately the show tried too hard to portray a fun for all time at the club, but the glaring contradictions in their statements scuppered them. Two more episodes remain in the series with further stripping escapades in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Emma Tomlinson