Room 5 BBC Radio 4

Helena Merriman previews the next series of Room 5 which starts on Tuesday 1st November.
One afternoon, Helena Merriman walked into a doctor’s surgery and was given a shock diagnosis. In Room 5, she interviews people who - like her - were changed by a diagnosis. Combining intimate storytelling, immersive sound design, candid interviews, science and a large dose of compassion, Room 5 is a gripping portrait of extraordinary people at a moment when everything changes.
Written, presented and produced by Helena Merriman
Composer: Jeremy Warmsley
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore
Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples
Editor: Emma Rippon
#room5

Aged 39, Holly Smale was a successful author - the creator of the bestselling series of children’s books, Geek Girl. One afternoon, while talking to her therapist, Holly breaks down, says she feels broken. And so begins her journey to understand why she’s always felt different to other people.
We track back through Holly’s difficult childhood, her short-lived modelling career and her traumatic time at university - all the way to the moment she was diagnosed as autistic.
Psychologist Dr Sarah Lister Brook - Clinical Director for the National Autistic Society - tells us why so many autistic girls and women still go undiagnosed. And Holly Smale shares some life advice with a newly diagnosed eight-year-old girl.

In Room 5, Helena Merriman interviews people who - like her - were changed by a diagnosis.

Written, presented and produced by Helena Merriman
Composer: Jeremy Warmsley
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore

Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples
Researcher: Drew Hyndman
Editor: Emma Rippon

#Room5

End song: Miffed by Tom Rosenthal

Killing the worm in Simon’s brain before it kills him.
Simon’s just back from holiday when things go off-kilter. He tries to open the fridge door - but can’t find the handle. He feels a throbbing pain in his head and a growing pressure behind his eye. An MRI scan reveals a cyst in Simon’s head - containing a worm. Simon has a rare condition called neurocysticercosis.

And so the race against time begins: to kill the worm in Simon’s brain before it kills him.
In Room 5, Helena Merriman shares stories of real-life medical mysteries, interviewing people who - like her - were changed by a diagnosis. Combining intimate storytelling, immersive sound design, candid interviews, science and a large dose of compassion, Room 5 is a gripping portrait of extraordinary people at a moment when everything changes.

Written, presented and produced by Helena Merriman
Composer: Jeremy Warmsley
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore

Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples
Researcher: May Cameron
Editor: Emma Rippon

#Room5

End song: Miffed by Tom Rosenthal

The mystery diagnosis that sheds light on pain.
After a routine knee-op, 23-year-old Poppy comes round in excruciating pain. Her leg changes colour, soon she can’t walk, yet her scans show nothing wrong with her knee.
Doctors are baffled and about to discharge her when she’s seen by Dr Deepak Ravindran - one of the UK’s top pain consultants - who solves the mystery.

In Room 5, Helena Merriman shares stories of real-life medical mysteries, interviewing people who - like her - were changed by a diagnosis. Combining intimate storytelling, immersive sound design, candid interviews, science and a large dose of compassion, Room 5 is a gripping portrait of extraordinary people at a moment when everything changes.

Written and presented by Helena Merriman
Produced by Claire Bowes and Helena Merriman
Composer: Jeremy Warmsley
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore

Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples
Editor: Emma Rippon

#Room5

End song: Miffed by Tom Rosenthal

Gareth’s search to find out why he has no sperm.
Gareth Landy will never forget the room where it happens. Where he’s told he has no sperm. He’s devastated - he’s desperate to start a family with his wife Anna - and to do that he needs to find out why he has no sperm. The doctor says he’ll probably never find an answer. But Gareth keeps searching - a search that leads somewhere completely unexpected.
In Room 5, Helena Merriman shares stories of real-life medical mysteries, interviewing people who - like her - were changed by a diagnosis.
Written, presented and produced by Helena Merriman
Composer: Jeremy Warmsley
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore
Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples
Researcher: May Cameron
Editor: Emma Rippon
#Room5
End song: Miffed by Tom Rosenthal

On changing her relationship with her body.
From the outside, Tilly seems to have life figured out. She works in fashion, lives on a house-boat - for which she’s done all the plumbing and electrics. But inside, she’s struggling. She’s always felt wrong in her body - ever since school. Then one afternoon, Tilly sits down with a therapist - who fits the pieces of the puzzle together and gives Tilly a diagnosis. Tilly’s diagnosis explains the way her brain is wired - now her challenge is to re-wire it, and change her future.

In Room 5, Helena Merriman shares stories of real-life medical mysteries, interviewing people who - like her - were changed by a diagnosis.

Written, presented and produced by Helena Merriman
Composer: Jeremy Warmsley
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore

Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples
Researcher: May Cameron
Editor: Emma Rippon

#Room5

End song: Miffed by Tom Rosenthal
Information and support on issues relating to this episode:

Body Dysmorphic Disorder
The BDD Foundation provides information, resources and support to those suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
https://bddfoundation.org/support/
Eating disorders
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2DRkg4JC7SLT3B7hlrn6DKN/information-and-support-eating-disorders
Mental health
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1NGvFrTqWChr03LrYlw2Hkk/information-and-support-mental-health-self-harm
Suicide/Emotional distress
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4WLs5NlwrySXJR2n8Snszdg/information-and-support-suicide-emotional-distress