The Body in Question
Documentary
The Body in Question is a landmark British medical documentary series of 13 shows made for the BBC. It was a groundbreaking show, being the first to ever televise an autopsy (in the final show on 29 Jan 1979). Dr Jonathan Miller considers the functioning of the body as a subject of private experience. He explores our attitudes towards our bodies, our ignorance of them, and our inability to read our body's signals. The first episode starts with vox populi asking where various organs in the body are located. By the final episode we are left in no doubt. Taking as his starting point the experience of pain, Dr Miller analyses the elaborate social process of "falling ill", considers the physical foundations of "disease" and looks at the types of individuals humankind has historically attributed with the power of healing. The series was nominated for two 1979 BAFTAs: Best Factual Television Series and Most Original Programme/Series.
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Seasons & episodes
This is a 13-part series (1 hour episodes) on all aspects of medicine and health science, written and presented by Dr Jonathan Miller.
- 1Naming of Parts6 Nov 1978 · 60m
- 2Try a Little Tenderness13 Nov 1978 · 60m
- 3How Do You Feel?20 Nov 1978 · 60m
- 4Breathless27 Nov 1978 · 60m
- 5Blood Relations4 Dec 1978 · 60m
- 6Heart of the Matter11 Dec 1978 · 60m
- 7Shaping the Future18 Dec 1978 · 60m
- 8Sleight of Hand25 Dec 1978 · 60m
- 9Native Medicine1 Jan 1979 · 60m
- 10Balancing Act8 Jan 1979 · 60m
- 11Brute Machine15 Jan 1979 · 60m
- 12Heads and Tails22 Jan 1979 · 60m
- 13Perishable Goods29 Jan 1979 · 60m
Details
- Created by
- Jonathan Miller
- First aired
- 6 Nov 1978
- Last aired
- 29 Jan 1979
- Status
- Ended
- Language
- English
- Network
- ABC TV, BBC Two
- Episodes
- 13
- Votes
- 3 on TMDB
Cast
Jonathan Miller
