Channel 4’s Naked Attraction gets one-off special guest audio description commentary by Scott Mills and Chris Stark

28 April 2021

Radio presenters Scott Mills and Chris Stark are stepping in to supply audio description (AD) for Episode 4 of Channel 4’s dating series Naked Attraction produced by Studio Lambert North. The episode will premiere on Channel 4 on Tuesday 4 May at 10pm.

The BBC Radio 1 duo have sparked national conversation around the AD service after discussing Naked Attraction’s unique commentary with listeners on their radio show.

Channel 4 invited Scott and Chris to record commentary in advance for Episode 4 of the programme, which will be used as the AD for the episode when it airs next week on Channel 4 and on All 4.

Naked Attraction, hosted by TV presenter Anna Richardson, sees the picker whittle down a group of six potential suitors, based solely on the power of Naked Attraction. The naked hopefuls stand in individual pods, while one body part is revealed at a time to the picker, who eliminates a person in each round based on what they find least attractive

This episode features Naked Attraction’s oldest ever picker, 75-year-old naturist Ian from North Yorkshire, and 30-year-old waitress Kerry from Aberdeen, each hoping to meet their perfect partner based solely on the power of Naked Attraction.

Speaking about their one-off contribution to the AD service, Scott Mills and Chris Stark said: “The Audio Description on Naked Attraction paints rude and playful pictures each week which we love listening back to on Radio 1. We’ve heard from our listeners who use the service how much it enhances their enjoyment of the programme so it’s amazing to be asked by Channel 4 and the RNIB to voice the audio description. It’s been a lifelong dream to say sentences like ‘a smorgasbord of front bottoms’ and ‘a plethora of peckers’.”

Audio Description enables blind and partially sighted viewers to enjoy television by providing additional narration. It describes body language, expressions and movements, making the programme clear through sound for people who are blind or partially sighted.

Channel 4 has committed to providing at least 20% of its programming with AD commentary and regularly outperforms all other public service broadcasters. In 2020 Channel 4 exceeded this commitment with 44% of programmes audio described, whilst E4 exceeded it with 77%.

Graham Wilkinson, Presentation and Access Services Manager at Channel 4 comments: “We want to make sure our programmes are inclusive and can be enjoyed by as a many people as possible, which is why we are dedicated to finding ways to improve the quantity of AD content Channel 4 offers. For Naked Attraction, we’ve made the AD more immersive to fit the tone of the programme, and we know Chris and Scott have been fans of this, so it’s exciting to have them on board with this special recording”.

Darrell Olsen, Head of Unscripted, Studio Lambert North said: “We recognise this is an extremely important service, and look forward to raising awareness of this, whilst at the same time enjoying what is sure to be Scott and Chris’s inimitable take on the descriptions.”

Sonali Rai, Broadcast and Audio Description Manager at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), said: “Audio description is fundamentally about ensuring that blind and partially sighted people are able to enjoy the same TV programmes as everyone else – but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. We believe that audio description is a creative asset and should be treated as such. It’s fantastic that Scott and Chris are stepping up to lend their voices to Naked Attraction - it's a perfect fit for the programme and we can’t wait to hear it when it airs.”

AD is available for free on a number of channels and programmes, but many television viewers are unaware the service exists. It can transform television viewing for blind and partially sighted people.

The AD service is available on digital TV from Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat and YouView, and on All 4 via all4.com, Apple and the Android apps.

Naked Attraction airs Tuesdays at 10pm on Channel 4 and is available to stream on All 4.

 

Notes to Editors

More about Channel 4’s commitment to audio described, subtitled and signed programming: https://www.channel4.com/4viewers/subtitled-audio-described-and-signed-programming

About RNIB

We are the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Every six minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. RNIB is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. A different world where society values blind and partially sighted people not for the disabilities they’ve overcome, but for the people they are.

RNIB. See differently.

Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk