Inside Dr Michael Mosley’s unbelievable TV profession
Dr Michael Mosley’s TV career began back in the 90s and over the next 20 years, he did everything from the James Bond bungee jump to living with a tapeworm.
Born in Calcutta, India, Dr Mosley attended boarding school in England before studying PPE at Oxford. After trying investment banking he retrained as a doctor before joining the BBC as an assistant trainee producer.
Dr Mosley made a string of science and history documentaries over 25 years, rising to become a presenter and an executive producer at the corporation.
In his journalistic career he has worked alongside the likes of John Cleese, Jeremy Clarkson, Professor Robert Winston and Sir David Attenborough.
His career on screen was spent challenging stale ideas, bringing his talents of wit, gusto and lateral thinking to testing theories – often on himself.
MailOnline takes a look back on the TV doctor’s career on our screens over the years.
Dr Mosley (pictured) was today found dead on a tiny Greek island after going missing
Dr Mosley married Clare (pictured together) in 1987, after meeting in medical school
Ulcer Wars – 1994
In 1994, Dr Moseley did his first full-length project. The Horizon documentary was about Barry Marshall, a self-experimenter.
He was convinced that stomach ulcers aren’t caused by stress but by an organism.
The show generated more than 20,000 letters and as a result Mosley was named medical journalist of the year by the British Medical Association.
He said at the time: ‘I probably did, in a funny way, more good with that one programme than if I had stayed in medicine for 30 years.’
Trust me, I’m a Doctor – 1996
In November 1996, the documentary show first aired with a combination of factual reporting and satire, presented by Phil Hammond and helped produced by Dr Mosley.
In the show, medical experts provide health as well as nutrition-based tips to people to help them lead healthy lives.
They also discuss popular health claims and deconstruct myths surrounding the topic.
The original BBC Two show ran until 1999 and in 2013, the show returned – with Dr Mosley as the presenter.
Television Programme: Trust Me, I’m A Doctor with Dr Chris van Tulleken, Gabriel Weston, Dr Michael Mosley and Dr Saleyha Ashan
In the show, medical experts provide health as well as nutrition-based tips to people
Blood and Guts – 2008
In 2008, Dr Mosely presented a documentary series looking at the brutal, bloody and dangerous history of surgery.
He looked back at history, when the surgeon’s knife was more likely to kill you than save you.
The TV doctor also examined invasive medicine in the past, when generally meant being bloodlet by leeches.
In 2008, Dr Mosely presented a documentary series looking at the brutal, bloody and dangerous history of surgery
The One Show – 2009
The doctor made multiple appearances on The One Show, including investigating hypnosis for pain relief with Stewart Derbyshire of Birmingham University.
In this episode, he was hypnotised as a pin was jabbed into his hand as far as it would go but it only felt like applying ‘suntan lotion’ with no pain.
The doctor made multiple appearances on The One Show, including investigating hypnosis for pain relief with Stewart Derbyshire of Birmingham University
The Story of Science – 2010
The Story of Science was a science documentary presented by Dr Mosley in 2010 on BBC Two.
It aired for one series, with six hour-long episodes, exploring how scientific understanding has developed over time.
The Story of Science was a science documentary presented by Dr Mosley in 2010 on BBC Two
‘James Bond’ Bungee Jump – 2011
The health guru bungee jumped from the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland – the highest in dam in Europe.
The dam was made famous when a stuntman jumped off it in the opening scene of the James Bond film ‘Goldeneye’.
Peering over the edge, he realised the magnitude of the height as he said with trepidation ‘oh that is real now’.
‘That is terrifying, that is absolutely terrifying’ he said before jumping, screaming, and commentating ‘that is absolutely horrible – being upside down is worse’.
He went on to say: ‘I’m waiting for the euphoric moment to kick in any moment now.’
Dr Mosley bungee jumped from the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland
Inside The Human Body – 2011
Dr Mosley also talked to different people around the world who have gone through remarkable changes.
Using graphics and stories, he traced development from birth to adulthood, and revealed that the brain is so sophisticated it takes more than twenty years to mature.
Using graphics and stories, Dr Mosley traced development from birth to adulthood, and revealed that the brain is so sophisticated it takes more than twenty years to mature
Horizon: The Truth About Exercise – 2012
First broadcast in 2012, The Truth About Exercise highlighted how different patterns of physical activity can help achieve health benefits.
It also explored the danger of sitting for prolonged periods of time and revealed how certain people are not able to see significant improvements in aerobics though endurance exercise.
Dr Mosley in The Truth About Exercise with Michael Mosley
Infested! Living with Parasites – 2014
BBC Four series Infested! Living with Parasites aired in 2014 and saw Dr Mosley explore the world of parasites by infesting himself with them.
For six weeks, he used his body as a laboratory and allowed a tapeworm to live in him to study its impact on his body.
He ended up suffering no major negative effects, but did put on a kilogram in weight.
He also stuck a leech on his arm and tried to infest himself with lice.
Dr Moseley even took sodium thiopental – known as truth serum – and also took the magic mushroom drug psilocybin while having his brain scanned.
BBC Four series Infested! Living with Parasites aired in 2014 and saw Dr Mosley explore the world of parasites by infesting himself with them
The Truth About Getting Fit – 2018
Dr Mosley teamed up with scientists to investigate how people can workout more smartly.
With the help of volunteers and researchers, he investigated what might have the greatest impact – walking 10,000 steps a day or completing three 10-minute sessions of brisk walking a day.
Dr Mosley teamed up with scientists to investigate how people can workout more smartly
The Diagnostic Detectives – 2020
Dr Mosley and a group of medical specialists presented a 2020 documentary series centred around the group of doctors who choose to tackle a patient with life-changing symptoms’ problem.
Dr Michael Mosley’s new Fast 800 Keto Diet – 2021
The presenter appeared more recently on screens to talk about his Fast 800 Keto diet, which is described as ‘moderately low-carb Mediterranean-style’.
It’s the subject of his 2021 book and also seen on Channel 4’s Lose a Stone in 21 Days.
The book sold 350,000 copies in the UK in the year it was published and it has since sold more than 1million copies and has been translated into 30 languages.
However, his three-part series for Channel 4 was criticised by Beat, the eating disorder charity, whose helplines were inundated.
Dr Mosley co-authored a book called The Fast Diet with journalist Mimi Spencer in 2013
Michael Mosley: Secrets Of Your Big Shop – 2024
In the Channel 4 show Secrets Of Your Big Shop, Dr Mosley went undercover as a takeaway delivery man.
He then appeared on the doorstep of those who ordered in and and shocked the family with their weekly takeaway consumption.
One woman even broke down in tears after she was confronted with her £300-a-week takeaway.
In the Channel 4 show Secrets Of Your Big Shop, Dr Mosley went undercover
