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Programme 1: Bath

In the first part of the series, we meet the eight contestants: Steve; Stan; Blaine; Pablo; Helen; Lisa; Fiona; and Reshma. These varied characters with contrasting physical appearances all have different reasons for wishing to participate in the experiment. They also have different hopes and fears about the insights they will gain and challenges they will face as they make the transition from male to female or vice versa.

Make-up and underwear

We witness the beginning of the transition. With the help of Tasleen Carstairs, an image consultant for the transgender community, the men must reshape their bodies and don female clothing and make-up. Shock, surprise and hilarity greet their initial steps towards changing sex.

The girls undergo a similar process. In male attire and with their breasts bound, the women feel physically uncomfortable and emotionally ill at ease. None of them are pleased with the men they appear to be becoming.

When boy/girls meet girl/boys for the first time, all quickly fall into stereotype. The 'boys' are aggressive and laddish, the 'girls' sexual and flirtatious.

The eight contestants pick names for their new characters: Steve becomes Sandra; Stan is Stacey; Blaine is Jessica; Pablo is Agetha but later changes his alias to Joelle; Helen becomes Bob; Lisa is Lee; Fiona becomes Adam; and Reshma becomes Abdul.

Mental states

When the basics of the physical differences have been mastered and names picked, the participants must travel to London for a psychiatric evaluation. David Dalrymple, leading clinician at Charing Cross Hospital's Gender Identity Clinic, interviews the contestants. He needs to check for any signs of gender disorder that might render them unsuitable for the experiment. Having answered such thorny questions as, 'Have you ever experienced any strong or persistent preference for cross-gender roles in recreational activities?' all eight contestants are found to be suitable for the task ahead.

Behaviour

Rebecca Hall, a theatre director who runs gender workshops, begins the next stage of the transition. It is not enough for Steve to look like Sandra, he must be able to walk, sit, gesture and answer a mobile phone as Sandra would. During a role-play exercise, an interesting trend emerges. The participants start to reflect what each individual thinks of the opposite sex and it becomes clear that some of the women in particular do not feel very positive about men. Their portrayal of masculinity is harsh and tough.

Judgement 1

Tasleen Carstairs, image consultant, Rebecca Hall, theatre director, and Simon Andreae, executive producer of Boy Meets Girl and writer on gender politics, have to decide which two contestants will fall at this first hurdle.

The concept | Programme 1 | Programme 2 | Programme 3