The Human Body is an eight-part documentary series, first shown on 20 May 1998 on BBC One and presented by medical scientist Robert Winston. A co-production between the BBC and The Learning Channel, the series looks at the mechanics and emotions of the human body from birth to death.
The Human Body | |
---|---|
Also known as | Intimate Universe: The Human Body |
Genre | Science |
Directed by | Richard Dale Emma De'Ath Andrew Thompson Peter Georgi Christopher Spencer Liesel Evans John Groom |
Presented by | Robert Winston |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 8 |
Production | |
Executive producers | Alan Bookbinder Lorraine Heggessey |
Producer | Richard Dale |
Production companies | BBC The Learning Channel |
Original release | |
Network | BBC One |
Release | 20 May 25 June 1998 | –
The series was nominated for numerous awards, winning several, including three BAFTA awards, four RTS awards and a Peabody Award.
Described as the BBC's "first major TV series on human biology",[1] it took over two years to make and aimed to be the definitive set of programmes on the human body.[1] The series was produced by Richard Dale and presented by Professor Robert Winston, a fertility expert.
The series used a variety of different techniques to present the topics being discussed, including endoscopes and computer graphics for internal shots, time-lapse photography to show the growth of hair and nails, magnetic resonance imaging and scanning electron microscopy.[2]
The series gained 6.3 million viewers and an audience share of 38%.[3]
The series was nominated for numerous awards, winning several, including three BAFTA awards, four RTS awards and a Peabody Award.
Year | Award | Result | Category / Comments |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | British Academy Television Awards | Won | Best Factual Series (Richard Dale)[4] |
Won | Originality (Richard Dale)[4] | ||
Won | Best Graphic Design (Tim Goodchild, David Haith)[4] | ||
Nominated | Best Photography (Factual) (Chris Hartley, David Barlow, Tim Shepherd, Rob Franklin)[4] | ||
Nominated | Best Sound (Factual)[4] | ||
Royal Television Society Awards | Won | Best Graphic Design – Programme Content Sequences (Tim Goodchild, David Haith)[5] | |
Won | Best Lighting, Photogtaphy & Camera - Photography Documentary/Factual (Chris Hartley, David Barlow, Tim Shepherd, Rob Franklin)[5] | ||
Won | Best Visual Effects (Tim Goodchild, David Barlow, Tim Shepherd, Steve Bowman)[5] | ||
Won | Craft and Design Innovation[5] | ||
Nominated | Team Award[6] | ||
National Television Awards | Nominated | Most Popular Documentary Series[7] | |
George Foster Peabody Awards | Won | "Never needlessly technical and always witty, energetic, and innovative, The Human Body takes us on an incredible voyage, and for so doing, is deserving of the Peabody Award."[8] | |
1999 | International Monitor Awards | Won | Documentaries – Director (Christopher Spencer for "The End of Life")[5] |
San Francisco International Film Festival Silver Spire | Won | Television – Science and Nature (Alan Bookbinder, Lorraine Heggessey, Richard Dale, Christopher Spencer for "The End of Life")[5] | |
International Documentary Association Awards | Nominated | Limited Series (Sandra Gregory, Richard Dale)[5] |
A DVD of the series was released in July 2001 and includes a 50-minute feature on The Making of the Human Body - A final overview that reveals the techniques and developments that made the series possible.[9]
The series was adapted into a film released for IMAX cinemas, with Robert Winston returning to narrate. The film won the Giant Screen Theatre Association's Best Film For Lifelong Learning award.[3]
The book accompanying the series was written by Anthony Smith. According to one review, "Smith transcends anatomical trivia to record our bodies' powerful tale with empathy and clarity."[10]