Health Check, BBC World News
Health Check TV was a program that grappled with health issues on a global scale broadcast on BBC World News.
I worked as a Producer/Director, and occasional presenter, on Health Check, a weekly factual programme broadcast on BBC World News that explores global health, wellbeing and medical research for international audiences. My role focused on commissioning, producing and editorially shaping short films and compilation programmes that translated complex health evidence into clear, engaging broadcast content.
Working within a fast-paced international newsroom, I developed stories in collaboration with journalists, editors and health experts, guiding them from initial pitch through to final edit. This involved identifying timely and relevant health topics, working closely with contributors to ensure scientific accuracy, and shaping narratives that were accessible to a broad, culturally diverse audience. I was responsible for overseeing editorial workflows, managing production schedules and ensuring content met BBC editorial standards while remaining engaging and audience-focused.
The programme addressed the growing need for trustworthy, evidence-based health information in a media landscape shaped by misinformation and uneven access to expertise. Through short films and carefully curated compilation episodes, Health Check offered viewers reliable insights into global health issues, everyday wellbeing and emerging research, supporting public understanding across different regions and contexts.
This work required strong editorial judgement, an ability to synthesise scientific research quickly, and close collaboration across disciplines and time zones. It also demanded sensitivity to how health information is received in different cultural contexts, balancing clarity, care and authority in the communication of complex and often personal subject matter. Through Health Check, I developed and applied skills in factual television production, health and science storytelling, commissioning and editorial development, and collaborative production within a global broadcast environment — contributing to public-facing health journalism that prioritised accuracy, accessibility and trust.
Highlights during this role included:
Developing award-winning approaches
Communicating complex public health issues when there are limited visuals provided an opportunity to take more innovative approaches. For example, to introduce audiences to key messages about how changes to the built environment could reduce malaria cases I took the opportunity to commission, write and produce a vibrant, short animation. Directed by Thom Hoffman in collaboration with Patrick Koduah and Victor Opeyokun, the animation was highly successful in engaging global audiences, and won the Association of British Science Writer's award for Best TV Programme/Online film. Watch the full film on the BBC Website.
Creating new opportunities across BBC World News
The Health Check TV producing team recognised there was an appetite for the stories that provided information audiences could implement in their daily lives, regardless of global location. We successfully pitched, and produced, a diet and exercise related mini series, Health Fix, that provided evidence based information about, among other things, the benefits and costs of eating fish as well as how to avoid pollution when commuting.
The team recognised the benefit of collaborating with different teams across the BBC, including the region specific language channels. In particular, we established a relationship with BBC Persian that allowed expertise sharing, improving the output of our studio shoots whist helping to establish a Persian version of Health Check TV that took into account cultural sensitivities.
Undertaking international presenting
During this time, I had the opportunity to travel to southern Malawi to produce and present on projects changing the lives of people in the warm heart of Africa. This included:
The easiest and most cost-effective way to stop the spread of rabies is by vaccinating enough dogs – and one charity is doing just that. Mission Rabies started its campaign in India and moved on to Malawi. Report here
In the dusty environments of sub-Saharan African countries where power supplies can be unreliable, medical equipment does not always function well… or at all. Simple items and locally produced equipment is proving to be more appropriate. Report here
In remote areas, getting access to quick and reliable HIV tests can be difficult. Medecins Sans Frontieres has simplified the testing process, and was trialling this Thyolo district. Report here
A selection of other features written and published on BBC News include: