Kathy Burke: Growing Up | Preview (Channel 4)
Having explored what it means to be a woman and the role money plays in our lives, acclaimed actor and director Kathy Burke turns her attention to age. As she celebrates turning 58, Kathy naturally contemplates getting older and explores the lives and experiences of the old and the young.
Over two funny and revealing episodes, Kathy asks; should we fight or accept old age? And is it now easier or harder to be young in today's world?
To help her in this quest of discovery, she meets some ordinary people with extraordinary lives and views on being young today and getting older, as well as some famous faces, who share their experiences and insights, including showbiz pals Jennifer Saunders, Bill Bailey, Charlotte Church and TikTok sensation Francis Bourgeois.
In this episode, Kathy examines getting older and her own feelings about what might happen to her in later life, and learns from others who are defying the limits of old age and are glad to be grey, most of the time, achy joints permitting.
She meets 85-year-old Bridget, who became a sought-after model in her 70s and finds out that although Bridget is celebrating the way she looks and is confident in her image, she's also raging against the realties that come with old age. Is rage a secret weapon for ageing disgracefully and with dignity?
Kathy spends time with Jennifer Saunders and Bill Bailey to find out whether they are accepting ageing or are in a fight to retain their youth. She also meets sociologist Rania Hafezwho explains the reason older people are often left out of society due to the belief that they lose consumer power and are therefore less valuable in a capitalist world.
A dominatrix explains why she's still working in her 70s and has never been busier. And Kathy visits a unique funeral parlour in Croydon that reveals the lengths people will go to avoid the problem of death.
Both episodes of this programme will be available to stream or download on All 4, following the transmission of this episode on Wednesday 8th March.