Channel 4 strips back its inhibitions in The Beach (w/t)

Channel 4 is turning to science and stripping in a quest to make us feel better about our bodies in The Beach (w/t).

Last year three new studies by Dr Keon West of Goldsmiths University showed that people’s body image, self-esteem and life satisfaction could be vastly improved by seeing more normal, naked bodies (as opposed to media-perfect ones) and spending more time with our own naked bodies*. In The Beach (w/t) (6 x 60’) Channel 4 and Barefaced TV, part of the Argonon Group, will supersize this research to see if it can help fix the nation’s body confidence issues.

The series will see Dr Keon and body image and mental health campaigner Natasha Devon MBE oversee a bespoke retreat where each week three people who all suffer from a major lack of body confidence join a returning cast of near-naked body positive Brits of varying shapes and sizes on a sun-soaked island.

The confident ‘host’ cast, who rely on little more than elaborately designed body paint to cover their modesty, will endeavour to encourage their three guests to feel good in their own skin via a range of activities.. At the end of each group’s stay, will they have the confidence to proudly strut their stuff without inhibition and replicate the outcomes of Dr Keon’s experiment?

The Beach (w/t) (6 x60’) was commissioned by Vivienne Molokwu, Commissioning Editor for Features at Channel 4. It is a Barefaced TV Production and the Executive Producers are Rosie Bray and Lucy Golding. It will air later this year on Channel 4.

Vivienne Molokwu, Commissioning Editor for Features at Channel 4 said, “Negative body image is reported to be a major contributing factor to problems including depression; substance misuse; eating disorders; participation in school and progression at work. The Beach (w/t) is an unashamedly bold attempt to tackle this nationwide health issue.”

Barefaced’s Golding & Bray added: “We’re delighted to be bringing body positivity to C4 in such a playful way and by showcasing real bodies, that viewers rarely get to see and presenting the naked form as normal we hope to promote discussion around this very important issue, whilst entertaining the socks (and everything else) off the audience.”

ENDS

*Naked and Unashamed: Investigations and Applications of the Effects of Naturist Activities on Body Image, Self Esteem and Life Satisfaction, published in the Journal of Happiness Studies on Jan 27, 2017, by Dr Keon West.

About Barefaced

Barefaced TV, part of the Argonon Group, is run by Rosie Bray and Lucy Golding and focuses on creating original and entertaining factual entertainment. Bray and Golding have a combined 30 years of experience across production and development, working together on programmes including BBC Three’s Snog, Marry, Avoid?, BBC Two’s Restaurant Wars and Channel 4’s The Millionaire Party Planner.  The Beach is Barefaced TV’s first commission.
www.barefacedtv.com