ITVBe has ordered a series of docs, ‘Celebrity Health Stories’, from ITV Studios, Rare TV, The Gold Studios, Twenty Six 03 and Monkey.
The four factual specials will uncover topics close to the hearts of celebs including actor Jacqueline Jossa, British Olympic Boxer Nicola Adams, singer and actress Hannah Spearritt and Original The Real Housewives of Cheshire star Tanya Bardsley.
“Each in turn emotional, poignant and personal, the documentaries will aim to shed light on serious topics women face in today’s society, hoping to find answers and raise awareness in the process.” Each hour-long episode will focus on a different topic, from fertility issues such as IVF, to devastating symptoms following cosmetic surgery, to the everyday reality of living with an ADHD diagnosis.
Amanda Stavri, ITV’s Commissioning Editor of Reality TV said “At ITV we’re committed to depicting real-life stories for our viewers, in an authentic and truthful way- tackling important issues, myth-busting and providing important insight to create and instil change. These four equally brilliant documentaries would not have been possible without Jacqueline, Nicola & Ella, Hannah and Tanya’s support and bravery, and so we’d like to pass on our thanks to them for sharing their personal experiences to help raise awareness and bring these real-life issues to light.”
Jac Jossa: Me & Periods (1 x 60)
After sharing her excruciating painful period experiences with her 3.2 million Instagram followers, actor Jacqueline Jossa is on a personal journey to investigate the condition of painful periods with medical experts as well as start a fresh conversation about periods
As well as her own personal medical journey, we will see how her periods impact Jacqueline’s family, working life and general wellbeing. We will follow Jacqueline as she meets influencers that are on a mission to educate people about periods in a new way and discovers the effects that period stigma has on us all.
In a candid, yet upbeat, personally authored piece from ITV Studios Daytime, Jacqueline’s determined to play a role in ending the taboo nature of periods, to blow the lid off the ‘shush’ attitudes to ‘being on’ and persuade people to start talking about periods.
Nicola Adams: Me & IVF (1 x 60)
This emotional, highly personal film from Rare TV and The Gold Studios, follows British Olympic boxer Nicola Adams and her partner, model Ella Baig as they go through IVF treatment and pregnancy.
The narrative spine of the programme focuses on their journey from IVF to motherhood with key personal moments captured along the way. Following them from their very first scans right up until the birth of their child, the film captures the most intimate moments of the couple’s journey.
As they go through the emotional process they meet other people in similar circumstances, and explore the hidden difficulties of IVF treatment, including their own previous harrowing experiences, the prejudice and difficulties faced by same-sex couples wanting to conceive via IVF and the issues around being a mixed-race couple undergoing treatment.
Refreshingly honest and open, Nicola and Ella’s journey to make sense of their experience
will help to demystify this complicated process, as well as giving a glimpse into the
glamorous lives of this hard-working celebrity couple.
Hannah Spearritt: Me & Breast Implants (1 x 60)
Hannah Spearritt investigates Breast Implant Illness and asks important questions about Breast Augmentation surgery following her own augmentation surgery she had back in 2013.
Hannah alongside her partner Adam, seek to find answers in this revealing documentary from Twenty Six 03, on a controversial issue that is still debated amongst medical specialists and not officially recognised by the NHS.
They want to meet women who have shared Hannah’s experience and bring about change in how Breast Implant Illness is treated in the United Kingdom.
By telling her own story and raising awareness , can she discover whether women are aware of the research around Breast Implant Illness before choosing to get implants?
Tanya Bardsley: Me & ADHD (1 x 60)
As fans of The Real Housewives of Cheshire know, Tanya Bardsley was diagnosed 6 weeks before her 40th birthday with ADHD.
Tanya has suffered from feeling different to everyone else, but was always told this was down to anxiety and depression. Things got so bad for her that she even contemplated taking her own life.
In this revealing and personal documentary brought to you by Monkey, which is part of Universal International Studios, Tanya will talk candidly about these problems and how her life has changed with the ADHD diagnosis. Tanya’s son has also recently been diagnosed with ADHD, so she’s not only coping with her own diagnosis, but learning to be a mum to a child with the condition.
Jon Creamer
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