London, Tuesday 6 September 2016
Dr Christian Jessen is to front brand new format Dr Christian Will See You Now (8x60') for UKTV's premium entertainment channel W, it was announced today at UKTV Live.
Dr Christian Will See You Now, is an eight-part series from Firecracker Films which will see the renowned doctor diagnose, counsel and treat patients who desperately need his help. In a state-of-the-art clinic fitted with a fixed camera rig, the series will capture Dr Christian's emotional consultations, as well as any intimate moments between couples during their visit.
Dr Christian's talents will be pushed to the limit as he treats people with a huge range of medical conditions always related to sex and relationships. From fertility problems, to STI's, to keeping your partner awake by snoring, Dr Christian will be on hand to get these patients' sex lives and relationships back on track.
Throughout the series, Dr Christian and his crack team of medical professionals will provide a unique and bespoke service, tailored to the needs of his wide range of patients. The extensive network of fixed-rig cameras will be there to capture every smile, every tear and every jaw-dropping medical revelation as Dr Christian digs deeper than ever to help change his patients' lives for the better.
Dr Christian Jessen said,
This exciting format allows me to do what I love doing most - being a doctor and also educating the public; discussing those troubling issues that are so common and yet never talked about enough. I have an incredible first-class medical team that will assist me and I look forward to being able to coordinate everyone's journeys from initial consultation through to test results and their follow-up appointments and seeing some great, rewarding and successful outcomes.
Executive producer for UKTV, Helen Nightingale said,
This is bold, moving and heartfelt television with Dr Christian at its core. The pared-back nature of the film-making allows for emotionally engaging and unobtrusive storytelling, as Dr Christian helps patients overcome life-changing conditions in a relatable and accessible way. This will be a glimpse into conditions where nothing is off limits or taboo.
General manager for W, Steve North added,
We're delighted to be bringing this brand new format to W. It combines honesty and emotion - that together with the expertise and personality of Dr Christian makes it a must-watch for W viewers.
Over the hour-long programmes, people with pressing medical matters and challenging conditions - from fertility problems to mental health issues - visit Dr Christian and his team for a once-in-a-lifetime consultation with some of the most experienced medical professionals in their field.
An appointment with Dr Christian reassures his patients that whatever their ailment or situation, he and his team will help get to the bottom of their concerns, overcome their problems and potentially change their life forever.
Firecracker chief creative officer Jes Wilkins said:
Dr Christian is one of the most popular and distinctive figures in British factual television and we are delighted to be working in partnership with the team at W to launch this exciting, innovative and relatable new series.
The series has been commissioned by Helen Nightingale, and ordered by W general manager Steve North and UKTV's director of commissioning Richard Watsham. Dr Christian Will See You Now is due for transmission in early 2017 with Jes Wilkins as executive producer alongside Firecracker executives Federico Ruiz and Sam Emmery. Helen Nightingale will oversee as executive producer for UKTV.
Notes To Editors
For further information or feature and interview requests, please contact:
Victoria Hartley-Wilson at Plank PR on 020 8995 3936 or victoria@plankpr.com.
About W
Sky 109/245, Virgin 124/191, BT & TalkTalk 407
On demand on Sky and Virgin
W is UKTV's premium entertainment channel, offering audiences a dazzling mix of original factual entertainment formats - ON, Get Me To The Church, Honey I Bought the House - alongside the gold standard of shows from the US including Code Black, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, CSI:NY, and Grimm plus jewels from the very best of the BBC and Channel 4.
About UKTV
UKTV is the biggest multichannel broadcaster in the UK.
The award-winning independent has eleven imaginative brands - UKTV Play, Dave, W, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food. These include the two most popular non-PSB channels in the UK and account for 9.31% of the British commercial TV market. The company's most recent financial results showed record-breaking year-end revenue of £319m and EBITDA of £82m. It invested £148m in programming and related launches last year, and is becoming an increasingly significant investor in UK creativity. UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC, alongside programmes originally shown on ITV and Channel 4. The network embraces technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat, Amazon Fire and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories. Now celebrating its 23rd year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) - is proud to be the only British television broadcaster in The Sunday Times top 100 companies list.