Channel 4 to explore extraordinary and alternative lifestyles in new digital factual series ‘Life Uncovered’

7 December 2023

All new series Life Uncovered, will lift the lid on some very unconventional and often confronting lifestyles, as filmmaker and journalist Ben Zand immerses himself in extraordinary worlds trying to understand why these individuals live the way they do and how others react to their extreme lifestyles.

In this five-part series produced by Zandland, Ben meets a biohacker attempting to improve his health and ultimately live forever by increasingly extreme means, and an adoptee of the little known and often controversial practice of transmaxxing, in which young men embrace female identities, not because they identify as a woman but because they think it’ll make their lives better. The series also examines those choosing to donate sperm via ‘physical donation’ and in episode one, Ben meets notorious online personality, Oli London to learn more about his recent detransition and new, somewhat controversial identity.

Oli London is most famously known for spending over £200,000 on plastic surgery procedures to transition into a Korean woman. Now he has detransitioned and turned his focus on becoming a ‘masculine man’ and right-wing commentator on US talk shows as well as speaking out against gender-reassignment surgeries. But will opposing views force Oli to revaluate his life decisions and how they impact others?

Ben Zand, Filmmaker and Journalist said: “Life Uncovered is a series that only Channel 4 and Zandland could make. We get into the homes and behind the scenes of some of the UK's most controversial and fringe communities, whilst seeking to understand their lives and challenge their way of thinking. The series sets out to find the nuance that's sometimes missed in hot-button issues and to have conversations in a way that will make the audience think differently. The result is a series that's educational, entertaining and avoids being judgemental or overly opinionated. I'm really proud of it!”

Laura Marks, Senior Digital Commissioning Editor said: “Life Uncovered offers an impartial and unparalleled look under the skin of some of the most hidden communities in modern society, driving conversations that are rarely had. Bold and deeply thought-provoking, we hope each film will encourage viewers to shape their own opinions as well as scrutinise the societal norms that inform their own life decisions.”

Life Uncovered was Executive Produced by Ben Zand and Josh Reynolds and produced by Zandland. It was commissioned by Senior Digital Commissioning Editor, Laura Marks.

Watch episode one, Life Uncovered: Detransition on Monday 11th December from 5pm on the Channel 4 YouTube Documentaries Page.