Hidden Lives

Documentary about Britain's fattest teenager, Jonathan Wallace. In this film Jonathan has a gastric bypass operation - but for it to work, he needs to change his lifestyle completely: not easy in his home town of Hartlepool, where fast food restaurants abound. With a busy mum who's not averse to paying for the occasional KFC herself, Jonathan is mostly left to his own devices. Will the weight stay off, or will the operation fail as Jonathan, left alone, gorges himself on up 8 meals a day?

This is the story of juice-monkey extraordinaire Gregg Valentino and his pathological quest to build the most freakishly large biceps that roids can allow. In the documentary he recalls his misuse of steroids, namely not taking precautions necessary to prevent infection. Consequently he eventually came down with a very serious infection of his right biceps. After failed attempts to drain the hematoma himself, using the same needles he used to inject his steroids, and “filling two glasses with blood and pus” he sought emergency medical treatment. Ultimately his arm was saved, at the cost of a significant reduction in the size and shape of the biceps.

Mothers who continue to breast-feed beyond the age considered normal, into the stage when the child is eating, walking and talking. Plus, other parents with attachment issues

Every minute of every day, someone is a victim of domestic violence. It might surprise you to hear that 22% of the victims are male, although the British Crime Survey reckons the true figure could be a lot higher, seeing as many men are too ashamed to report their abuse. The McBride family remember Peter as an outgoing and happy-go-lucky person when he met Sonia at the age of 18. 22- year-old Sonia seemed to be a nice enough girl, but when the couple moved into the family home they started to see some cracks. Peter seemed afraid to speak his mind in front of Sonia, who definitely wore the trousers in the relationship. On Christmas Day 1994, the family saw the first sign of Sonia’s aggressive behaviour when she thumped Peter for falling asleep after dinner. They didn’t give it too much thought, and it wasn’t until the couple moved out that Sonia’s domineering behaviour got really serious. Peter stopped going out. He hardly saw his friends and family, and when he did, Sonia would ring victim”. constantly, checking up on where he was and what he was doing. By removing Peter’s self-esteem and external support systems, Sonia made sure Peter felt he couldn’t leave her or live without her. She had him on a ball and chain; when they fought, Peter would leave, but Sonia would apologise and they would get back together. No one knew what was going on because Peter constructed a web of deceit to cover up for the escalating violence Sonia was inflicting on him. When she smashed up his ear with a glass ashtray, he told his family that he had walked into a scaffolding pole. If anyone confronted Peter about his injuries, he would brush them off, saying “I’ll deal with it.” His mother says sadly, “I honestly believe that he would stand there and take a hiding from her rather than walk away because he absolutely adored her”. According to a 2001 survey, less than 8% of male victims retaliated, even if their partners asked to be hit back. As one victim say

New series of the human interest documentary strand. People with Tourette's syndrome discuss how they have overcome the symptoms of their affliction - including the urge to make obscene gestures, involuntary tics and compulsive swearing - to succeed in the workplace and spread awareness about the condition. The interviewees also discuss the prejudice they have faced from potential employers and how they have refused to give up hope.

Documentary series exploring unusual lives. This edition examines some of the most extraordinary relationships in Britain: threesomes. In South Wales, John shares his wife Shanea with Noel, who also has a child with her. Meanwhile, in London, twentysomething Aussie librarian Davina lives with her husband Dean and her bisexual lover Jen. The programme explores how these threesomes manage their lives, and follows Dean as he makes a call to his mother explaining his new marital situation.

Documentary series exploring unusual lives. This edition looks at three families in the UK and US whose ideas on the upbringing and disciplining of their children are directly informed by the Bible. The families talk candidly about their Biblical Parenting methods, including their beliefs that children are inherently disobedient, and their use of corporal punishment such as rods and spatulas to discipline their children.

Documentary about men whose height has seriously affected their lives in very different ways. They all share one thing: they are unhappy about being short and vent their anger in the most surprising ways. Featuring Sandy, who was badly bullied at school and went on to become a Thai-boxing champ; Brian, who suppresses his anger through mind games; and Paul, who works in the House of Lords and vents his anxieties through punk-rock poetry.

Five's illuminating human interest strand concludes with another documentary exploring unusual lives and remarkable people. This programme meets the women who have decided that the recipe for marital bliss lies in obedience, submissiveness and domesticity.

For most people, just the thought of their parents naked would be enough to make them squirm. But this show profiles three couples who prefer to live life in the nude and asks their children what effect their parents' liberal attitude to clothing has had on their own lives.