The Open University

New OU films for BBC Morning Live explore Dementia

26 March 2025

Two short films co-produced by The Open University and the BBC will feature on BBC One’s Morning Live programme as part of their Memories and Dementia season. Young Onset Dementia is expected to air on Wednesday 26th March, between 9:30am and 10:45am followed by Dementia Training on 28th March. In Young Onset Dementia, we hear […]

New OU/BBC Radio Series Inside Health

15 October 2024

A brand-new OU/BBC radio series Inside Health starts on Tuesday 15th October at 09:30 on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. The six-part series will give listeners a better understanding of various health issues, distinguishing fact from fiction and bringing clarity to conflicting health advice. The Open University academic consultants on the series, Senior Lecturer […]

OU/BBC Hospital: a harrowing second series

16 June 2017

Following critically acclaimed first series, earlier this year, the cameras return to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust for the second series of Hospital. The second four-part series, the first episode of which is due to broadcast on BBC Two on Tuesday 20 June 2017, 21:00, provides an even deeper insight into the ever-increasing demands on the NHS with unique […]

NHS under the microscope in new OU/BBC documentary

10 January 2017

From A&E overcrowding, to cancelled operations and morally complex medical ethics, Hospital is the story of the NHS in exceptional times. The six-part series provides an insight into the ever-increasing demands on the NHS service with unique access to one of the UK’s biggest and busiest NHS Trusts, Imperial College Healthcare, London. The first episode […]

Meet the OU academics behind The Big C and Me TV series

3 June 2016

OU academics are often nominated to work as consultants on Open University TV and radio co-productions which align with their areas of professional expertise. But what does this mean? They’re nominated by their faculty to consult on co-productions and work closely with the programme makers throughout, advising on research topics, commenting on draft scripts, fact checking and providing […]

The Big C booklet produced by Open University academics to support BBC TV series The Big C and Me.

5 ways to make a difference to someone living with cancer

2 June 2016

Two and a half million people are living with cancer in Britain. But what is the impact on a patient once they receive the diagnosis and how do they, and their families and friends, cope with everything the disease then throws at them? The Big C and Me is a BBC/Open University co-production delving into […]

Social worker Emma Govan at The Open University Degree Ceremony at Edinburgh's Usher Hall

‘So proud to be a social worker’

15 March 2016

The OU has been training social workers for over 18 years with 300 people graduating in the field each year. To celebrate World Social Work Day today, a social work student and graduate reflect on their journeys into the profession. ‘Passionate about my career’ Emma Govan (pictured above) graduated from the OU in 2014 and has been […]

Documentary on personal story of a choice to die

9 February 2016

An observational documentary, co-produced by The Open University and BBC, follows the journey of a man considering assisted suicide. Simon is a successful businessman with a loving family and large circle of friends. His world falls apart in January 2015 when he is diagnosed with an aggressive form of Motor Neurone Disease and given two […]