BBC Factual has commissioned Twenty Twenty to make new (4×40) BBC1 series, Inside Therapy with Matt and Emma Willis (working title).
In the series, the pair team up with some of Britain’s leading therapists to explore how they can help navigate the challenges that modern life throws at people. They will follow a range of people across the UK experiencing therapy and “uncover practical and accessible ways to improve mental health and wellbeing.”
From Bristol-based Twenty Twenty Productions (A House Through Time, First Dates) cameras will capture real therapy in action, as people from different backgrounds and life experiences work through the issues shaping their lives at a specially-created clinic, “capturing the raw, real-time breakthroughs and genuine moments of change as they unfold.”
The show is presented by Matt and Emma Willis, who have both individually and as a couple spoken about their experiences of therapy.
Through demystifying the process of therapy and providing viewers with valuable insight that they can apply to their own lives, Inside Therapy with Matt and Emma Willis aims to tackle the stigma around mental health and help remove barriers towards improved mental wellbeing. It will provide insight into universal issues that we all struggle with – exploring what causes them and how they can be treated – offering a tangible guide to mental health for a broad audience.
Matt and Emma Willis said: “Therapy has played a huge role in both of our lives, not just individually but as a couple too. It’s given us the tools to understand ourselves and each other better, and we know firsthand how powerful that can be. With this documentary series we’ll hear from incredible experts and see what really happens in the therapy room, to help break down the stigma and start conversations. We’ll meet those taking part and follow the process each step of the way, which we hope will show the benefits of talking and prioritising mental wellbeing. We know that therapy isn’t always easy to access, so by bringing it to TV, we hope to give people a window into the process and share tools that could help them navigate their own challenges. Asking for help is never a weakness; it’s one of the bravest things you can do.”
Twenty Twenty’s Creative Director James O’Reilly said: “We’re so thrilled to be working with Emma, Matt and our incredible cast of therapists on this series. The challenges and problems we all face can sometimes feel insurmountable – but the uplifting message that this show reveals is how it’s possible to deal with almost anything that life can throw at us.”
Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, said: “There is more awareness than ever before about how important it is to look after our mental health but there are still barriers to people accessing the support they need. This inspiring new series offers an insight and gives us some tools that can help us better understand ourselves and each other.”
This series will be a key part of a BBC focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing in May. The Open University are developing a comprehensive online support resource to accompany the series.
Inside Therapy With Matt and Emma Willis (working title) was commissioned by Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries. The Exec producers are Ruth Kelly and Lucy Morgan for Twenty Twenty. The Series Producer is Ian Osprey and the Series Director is Nick Hardie. The BBC commissioner is Beejal-Maya Patel. The series is co-produced with the Open University.
Picture credit: Twenty Twenty Productions
Jon Creamer
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