In a previous post on my own blog entitled Evidence of Body, I pointed out a special characteristic of this cross-platform initiative – that unusually you can see, after very little time, evidence of immediate, positive changes of behaviour. That observation was made with reference to the week-long series of Embarrassing Bodies broadcast in April/May, but the recent four-part series focused on teenagers yielded similar clear evidence of real public value.

A quick and pretty unscientific trawl through the comments submitted to the Embarrassing Teenage Bodies website – this time there were 11,000 submitted over the six days around transmission! – reveal actual changes of behaviour; the building of confidence around illnesses perceived as “embarrassing”; the prompting of increased openness in discussing such matters; reassurance; clarification; and the encouragement of peer-to-peer support.

On this page you’ll find a brief selection of comments that illustrate the sorts of impact evident across the site. There’s a more comprehensive list of such comments on More Evidence of Body (a post on my blog) or even better, take a few moments to explore the Embarrassing Teenage Bodies website itself to get a feel for what it’s achieved.

Sample quotes:

“thanks teenage bodies thanks to you i’ve had the confidence to go and have a std test.”

“This site and video is soooo useful and informative!!! I feel more confident to see my GP and look him/her in the eye and state my problem.”

“I was worried about how i looked “down there” but this video made me realise everybody is different and that it’s completely normal to worry.”

“GREAT show. It encouraged me to go get something checked out =) & I’m sure it encouraged a lot of other teenagers to get stuff thats bothering them checked out!”

“After watching your show, my husband decided to check himself one night whilst having a shower. To his shock he found a lump. He went straight to his doctor and within a week he had surgery for testicular cancer, needs to have a few more scans, but thanks to the show he managed to find it in time.”

“I find this so embarrassing… but i’m glad to know i’m not the only one.”

“i am so glad i’ve actually found this website, because it has really helped me reading all these comments about other people that have this problem.”

“these videos hav helped me check my self down below and now me and my friends have been comfitable talking to each other about our pubity problems!!!”

I’d be very interested to hear from anyone who watched the shows or used the website – did you feel they engaged viewers with the vital health issues covered in a constructive way? How does this kind of lively, colourful approach to preventive healthcare compare to more official, formal approaches?

Around 40 passionate Channel 4 viewers made the journey to London to take part in our debate – many were able to voice their opinions live on air, but with limited time and so many opinions in one room, not everyone managed to have their say before the studio cameras stopped rolling… As ever though, The TV Show team were on hand to let anyone who wanted to speak directly to camera.

Watch the video to find out what our audience members thought of programmes including Desperate Housewives, The Perfect Vagina, When Women Rule The World, The Secret Millionaire, and even The TV Show.

Do you agree with the comments made? Do you have a different point of view about the programmes discussed? Please let us know what you think by leaving your comments below.

The TV Show is broadcast live from west London on the first Saturday of each month – if you’d like to join the studio audience and have a chance to put your questions to Channel 4, please see our Take Part section for more information.

Given that the five most powerful people at Channel 4 are men (and dare I suggest it – white, middle class ones to boot) does it show on air? And while Selina Scott sues Five for allegedly discriminating against older women, where are all the older women on Channel 4…?

Our starting point is the recent G-Spot season of documentaries. Channel 4 described it as: “a new female-led documentary strand of intelligent and provocative films investigating a range of topical issues that impact on how women live now.” And what were those issues? Prostitution, vaginal cosmetic surgery, facial cosmetic surgery, wearing fur and, still to come, women who breast feed other people’s children. Those are, apparently, the women’s issues Channel 4 felt needed investigation in 2008.

Did you see them? Lots of my friends ended up being pleasantly surprised at the programmes’ intelligence. But some I’ve spoken to thought titles like The Perfect Vagina were too ‘Channel Five’ and they switched off. And is there any truth in the suggestion that any men watching were really just there in the vain hope that the presenter Lisa Rogers (who was once a scantily clad pin-up for lads mags) would eventually get her bits out?

But there are bigger questions too. Think about the images of women Channel 4 projects. Programmes about looking 10 Years Younger. Gok Wan can claim to be a positive and empowering force – but doesn’t How To Look Good Naked still basically tell women how to improve the way they look? And aren’t the models on Gok’s Fashion Fix still essentially thin and pretty? Strong women certainly feature on Dangerous Jobs for Girls, and arguably having Charlotte Church host C4’s Friday night youth entertainment show is a good thing. If I were to put my daughter in front of Channel 4 in the hope she would get great ideas about being a successful, confident and happy woman when she’s big, would my hopes be dashed?

Of course there are always people who argue it was better in the old days. When a woman – Liz Forgan – was director of programmes, when Carol Vorderman was the highest paid person at Channel 4, when The Tube was presented by Paula Yates and C4’s programme about TV – The Media Show – was presented by Muriel Gray. But then, remember the Red Triangle? And was Paula really any different to Dani Behr, Amanda De Cadenet or even Charlotte Church?

There is a rich seam here – and we’ll only scratch the surface on the show – but perhaps the website is a better place to have a more in-depth discussion….?

Finally, in response to some great viewer feedback on the latest series of C4’s The Secret Millionaire (incidentally, a series which recently profiled an extremely positive female role model), we’ll be hosting a live Q&A session with the programme makers during this Saturday’s show. Read this blog post to find out more.

Cutting Edge

I’d like to thank everyone who has written, called, emailed and spoken to me. After such a long and lonely journey, I have been truly overwhelmed by the good wishes you have all passed to me. This has not been an easy experience – emotionally, physically or mentally. Frankly, it has taken every fibre of my being to make it all happen. That said the prize is worth it. Although I am still healing, I am truly happy and content – and that contentment gets greater every day. I know the juxtaposition of macho paratrooper to woman has been too much for some – most notably my family and the Army – but it has been a change worth the struggle.

Right now, I intend to carry on working to educate and inform on the issue of gender dysphoria by carrying on with a media profile, in whatever guise that turns out! On a personal front, you will be pleased to hear I have started dating and met a very nice man. It’s very early days but the sense of acceptance I now receive has been wonderful.

First and foremost, your love and best wishes have filled my heart with joy – and helped fill the wound left by my family’s rejection. I have tried to write back personally to every-one who has written, but if I have missed you out, please know it is by accident, not design. You may wish to write to me on www.janhamilton.co.uk, which I am in the process of creating and updating.

Lots of love to all,

Jan XXX