Gogglebox cast can’t watch our new TV series
The Gogglebox cast were left squealing on Friday night after watching a particularly eye‑watering moment from our new TV series, Alice Roberts: Our Hospital Through Time.
In the episode, Professor Alice Roberts explored how surgeons in the 17th century dealt with bladder stones. Urologist Jonathan Goddard explained how the stones form when people don’t drink enough water, and showed a range of real-life examples, including some very large ones.
Things got even more uncomfortable when Roberts demonstrated the old-fashioned surgical technique on a dummy. The brutal method left several of the Gogglebox stars wincing.
Reacting to the scenes, Gogglebox’s Giles Wood exclaimed: "I think I'd rather call it a day, wouldn't you, Nutty?" before shielding his eyes and adding: "Has it finished yet Mary?"
During the demonstration, Alice inserted a metal hook into the urethra and gently twisted it until it reached the bladder, where surgeons would listen for the sound of the hook hitting a stone.
Across this six‑part series, Professor Alice Roberts explores St Bartholomew’s Hospital, where care has been provided to Londoners continuously since 1123.
As Roberts explains, the series allowed her "to cover the contemporary hospital, modern treatments… and explore a lot of history that is Barts’ history."
It’s also a celebration of the people who keep our hospitals running today: clinicians, technicians and support staff across the Trust.
Episode 3 premieres this week and follows 69‑year‑old Edith Pue’s journey from Belfast to Barts for life‑saving surgery on a dangerous tear in her aorta, carried out by leading specialist Professor Aung Yee Oo and a skilled theatre team.
The episode also looks back at centuries of medical discovery, from William Harvey’s work on blood circulation to historic bloodletting, and shows how these breakthroughs still shape modern care.
Episode 3 airs Wednesday 4 March at 8pm on Channel 5.
Have you been watching the series? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
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