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Anna Richardson has revealed her shock at the lack of support and understanding around dementia, one of the most common diseases in modern times.
One in three people will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime, and her father is one of the many people in the UK currently battling it.
Jim Richardson, 83, was once a leading figure in the Church of England and received an OBE for his service – now he suffering the cruelness of the disease.
It has inspired the TV presenter, 54 – who is known for hosting Supersize vs Superskinny and Naked Attraction – to make a moving documentary on the subject.
The new show, airing on Channel 4 on October 2, is called Anna Richardson: Love Loss And Dementia.
Anna Richardson, 54, is making a very personal documentary after her father was diagnosed with a disease
The TV presenter, known for Supersize vs Superskinny, says making the TV doc was one of the hardest things she’s done
Anna hopes she will raise awareness and improve understanding of dementia in the way that Davina McCall has done for the menopause.
‘We don’t give a sh*t about old people in this country – it is an absolute crisis and it’s getting bigger,’ she told The Times.
The documentary will trace the Richardson family life as they struggle through the realities of Jim’s dementia.
It will also explore stories of other dementia sufferers including a case of late-stage dementia and a man in his twenties with a gene that will cause him to lose his mind.
‘We made cancer a priority, we made obesity a priority. I don’t understand why the government isn’t making this an absolute priority,’ Anna says.
The support on offer, Anna says, is not good enough for her father, an intelligent member of the clergy, who does not want to join patronising tea parties to feel better.
Jim is living alone in sheltered accommodation, funded in part by social services and located near family in Staffordshire.
‘He has said to me “when I die, I’m going to the company of angels”,’ Anna adds. Making the film has made me feel a bit closer to him.’
The presenter also fronts dating show Naked Attraction, which sees singletons strip down in successive rounds to be in for a chance of going on a date with the contestant
Anna split from former Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins in Christmas 2020, but their break-up only emerged in late 2021
The presenter fronts dating show Naked Attraction, which sees singletons strip down in successive rounds to be in for a chance of going on a date with the contestant.
Anna said the show is ‘multigenerational, like Strictly’ and says while some viewers may be cringing, there’s ‘nothing titillating’ about the contestants stripping off.
The TV favourite believes it should be shown in school as a representation of what normal bodies look like.
‘Parents have said to me they put it on and watch with their 16-year-old sons because they want them to see what real women look like,’ she told The Sun.
‘We know that we’ve got a big problem with pornography. It’s time that we kicked back against that and against violence towards women, and started showing this is what ordinary people look like and what ordinary bodies look like.
‘That is the beauty of the show – there’s an educational element. I’d be on board with getting it shown in schools, there is nothing titillating about Naked Attraction.
‘There is nothing pornographic or sexual exciting – if anything, it’s like opening up a biology manual.’