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Producer/Director, Health Check, BBC World News

Health Check TV was a program that grappled with health issues on a global scale. A spin off from the radio show of the same name, it was broadcast on BBC World News.

I commissioned, produced, and occasionally presented weekly short films and monthly compilation programmes. I also produced written features for the BBC News website and presenter briefings for live World News segments. This required a thorough understanding of the scientific content in order to ensure it was communicated in an accessible way to audiences with diverse backgrounds, cultures and scientific literacy. I worked closely with correspondents and journalists around the world (with varying experience) to ensure this was done to a high standard.


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. 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.

Part of the stop motion animation

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.

BBC Persian became an important colalborator

  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:

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