Channel 4 examines how women feel about their breasts

26 January 2022

During lockdown our bras were furloughed and women started questioning why we were even wearing them – a sign of women’s ever changing relationship with their breasts.

At a time when British women are more likely to be dissatisfied by the size of their breasts than women in other countries Channel 4 has commissioned a one-off documentary about breasts.

Boobs, a Wall to Wall production, is a witty and forthright documentary by Elizabeth Sankey (Romantic Comedy) that dives head first into the wonderful world of breasts.

Using a mix of interviews with real women, alongside reality star Megan Barton-Hanson, artist Sophie Tea and podcaster Jackie Adedeji, and hilarious and unexpected clips from classic films, this documentary covers everything from bras to Baywatch.

When “free the nipple” is a clarion call around the world, and fake boobs are inflating the earnings of reality TV stars everywhere, this film feels particularly prescient.

Elizabeth Sankey, writer and director said: “Making this film was such a joy. I loved going through hundreds of films and TV shows to find the most the most iconic, bizarre and bodacious breast moments ever committed to screen. While cutting these clips together it quickly became clear that breasts are a very unique body part, obsessed over in Western culture, sexualised and twisted into an aspirational signifier of traditional young, white, beauty, while simultaneously acting as the most magical of food sources, providing nourishment for our children. While making this film I met so many incredible women who moved and inspired me, and also made me cry laughing (my crew included) and it was so refreshing to create a space where we could ditch the seedy stare of the male gaze to sit down with women and simply ask, "How do you feel about your breasts?"

Shaminder Nahal, head of specialist factual said: “I love the way this film intertwines women’s thoughts and feelings about their breasts with film and TV clips in such a funny, moving and clever way. I think it will make everyone who watches think a little differently about these endlessly fascinating body parts. It’s the latest of our Specialist Factual films investigating our bodies and ourselves after the groundbreaking 100 Vaginas, Bring Back the Bush, and Me and My Penis“

Lana Salah, executive producer said: “This is a feminist film with a completely female cast and crew taking a look at how breasts are mostly portrayed through the male gaze – it’s one of the few opportunities to hear women talk about and celebrate their boobs and discuss how can we claim our breasts back”

 

ENDS

Boobs airs on Channel 4 on Monday 7 February at 10pm

Executive Producer: Lana Salah

Writer and Director: Elizabeth Sankey

Production Company: Wall to Wall

Press contact: Harpreet Gill