Born to Be Different is a British documentary series on Channel 4, which follows the lives of six disabled children who were born in the millennium. Series 10 began in the UK on 26 March 2020.[1]
Children edit
- William Davis – lives with tuberous sclerosis, which causes him to have autism and epilepsy.[1] He passed away in 2023. [2]
- Hamish McLean – has dwarfism[1]
- Zoe Frew – has arthrogryposis[3]
- Shelbie Williams – has trisomy 9, which has caused her to be severely disabled[4] and who died in 2019 [5]
- Emily Speirs – has spina bifida[6][7]
- Nathan Christie – has Down syndrome[8][a]
Overview edit
| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2003 | ||
| 2 | 1 | 2004 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 2005 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 2007 | ||
| 5 | 2 | 2009 | ||
| 6 | 2 | 2010 | ||
| 7 | 3 | 2011 | ||
| 8 | 2 | 2012 | ||
| 9 | 2 | 2016 | ||
Series 1 (2003) edit
| Series | Director | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Stickland | 2003 | |
| The first episode looks at the first year of the children's lives. | ||
Series 2 (2004) edit
| Series | Director | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Stickland | 2004 | |
| The second episode looks at the children's lives as they reach two years of age. | ||
Series 3 (2005) edit
| Series | Director | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Stickland | 2005 | |
| The third series follows the children as they turn three. | ||
Series 4 (2007) edit
| Series | Director | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Stickland | 2007 | |
| The fourth series looks at the children's lives between the ages of three and four. | ||
Series 5 (2009) edit
| Series | Director | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Stickland | 2009 | |
| The fifth series focuses on the children at the ages of six and seven. | ||
Series 6 (2010) edit
| Series | Director | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Stickland | 2010 | |
| The sixth series focuses on the children at the ages of eight and nine. | ||
Series 7 (2011) edit
| Series | Director | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Stickland | 2011 | |
| The seventh series follows the lives of the children between the ages of nine and ten. | ||
Series 8 (2012) edit
| Series | Director | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Stickland | 2012 | |
| This series follows the children as the turn eleven and start secondary school. | ||
Series 9 (2016) edit
| Series | Director | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Stickland | 2016 | |
| The ninth series looks the lives of the children at the age of sixteen. | ||
Critical reception edit
Reviewing the show, TimesOnline commented with irony that "by the end of [it], we had sobered up entirely. A queasy feeling followed, of being pulled morally up and down and in and out until you didn't know whom you pitied or why. The sign, in other words, of excellent television."[9]
In its review, The London Paper expressed concerns about the voyeuristic approach of the show and asks: "what is to be gained from watching harried mothers breaking down, and children being constantly reminded of their problems by the camera crew? [...] Let’s just hope Channel 4's intentions were in the right place."[10]
The music for the series was composed by Julian Stewart Lindsay.
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Nathan dropped out of the series after series 8
References edit
- ^ a b c O'Donovan, Gerard (14 March 2013). "Born to Be Different, Channel 4, review". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "William Davis, from Bury St Edmunds, who appeared on Channel 4 series Born to be Different, dies aged 24". Suffolk News. 2 October 2023.
- ^ "Everyone fell in love with Zoe from Born To Be Different". Irish Examiner. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ Wyatt, Daisy (1 March 2016). "Born to Be Different, Channel 4 - TV review: A life-affirming watch". The Independent. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "Help raise £5000 to funeral fund for Shelbie Williams". JustGiving. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Emily to appear in 'Born To Be Different' on TV". Burnley Express. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "Born To Be Different". RTE.ie. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ^ "Born to Be Different - Episode 1". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company Limited. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ^ Rumbelow, Helen (29 April 2009). "Desperately Hungry Housewives; Born to be Different; Cruickshank on Kew". The Times Literary Supplement. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009.
- ^ http://www.thelondonpaper.com/staying-in/tv/features/born-to-be-different.
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