Born to Be Different

Series 7 Episode 1
First Broadcast: 9PM Thu 9 June 2011

At the end of the last series Zoe had just come through pioneering surgery to transplant one of her chest muscles into her arm. The programme follows her over months of physiotherapy to see whether the operation has worked.

Born with spina bifida, all through primary school Emily has been happy to wear pull-up nappies. Now Emily has decided to go ahead with the major surgery that doctors have told her is the only way to regulate when she goes to the toilet.

Nathan spent his primary years spent in mainstream schools, but now his parents must decide whether inclusion is still best for their son, who has Down's Syndrome.

Last year Hamish and his parents moved to the South Island of New Zealand. Hamish had to leave the friends he had grown up with and adapt to a new school where his achondroplasia (or dwarfism) would not be so familiar. At school he became the centre of attention for a few weeks. But with one of New Zealand's great skiing fields on his doorstep, and with Hamish's developing indefatigability, he finds a new pursuit that makes him feel at home.

And Shelbie enjoys a period of good health, before a scare leads to further tests and more treatment.

SERIES:

    1. William and his family Series 6 Episode 1 Born to Be Different: Turning Eight

      A decade-long television project following the lives of six children who were born with a disability. In this first…

      • This programme has episodes with subtitles available.

    2. Hamish playing Cricket Series 6 Episode 2 Born To Be Different: Turning Nine

      A decade-long television project following the lives of six children who were born with a disability. The children are…

      • Contains some scenes of surgery
      • This programme has episodes with subtitles available.

MORE:

  • One Born Every Minute series 3

    One Born Every Minute

    3 Series, 24 Episodes

    A ground-breaking look at the drama and emotion of a maternity unit, from the perspective of the parents-to-be and the maternity ward staff

  • cOPPERS

    Coppers

    4 Episodes

    Filmed across Britain, from inner cities to country beats, Coppers reveals what the police are up against every day of their working lives

  • Katie: The Science of Seeing Again

    Katie: The Science of Seeing Again

    1 Episode

    Katie Piper explores the issues surrounding the pioneering surgery she's undergoing to regain the sight in her left eye

  • Latoya

    Confessions of a Nurse

    3 Episodes

    Filmed over a year at a major NHS trust, Confessions of a Nurse follows a diverse group of nurses, revealing their day-to-day challenges and what they really think about being a nurse

  • MotherTruckers

    MotherTruckers

    1 Episode

    How do women lorry drivers get on with their male colleagues, juggle families, and stay feminine? This amusing film meets the new queens of the road.

  • Party Paramedics

    Party Paramedics

    3 Episodes

    Three part series following the medical units, home and abroad, that patch up the victims of Britain's binge-drinking culture

  • Newport Bouncers

    Bouncers

    1 Episode

    Funny, irreverent and often surprising film following the boys of Newport's biggest security firm over a summer of booze and brotherhood

  • Nose job

    Bleach, Nip, Tuck: The White Beauty Myth

    1 Episode

    Two documentaries from the Race: Science's Last Taboo season examine the growing trend for deracialisation surgery

See all Documentaries