Channel 4 commissions Meat the Family

Channel 4 has commissioned a new series entitled ‘Meat the Family’ from Spun Gold TV which asks: how much do we really know about the animals that we put on our plates?

The broadcaster said: ‘Four meat-loving families will share their homes with the animals they would normally serve up. For three weeks they will learn all about the animals, whilst living up close and personal with them.

‘Having grappled with the impact of their meat-eating habits, will these previously committed carnivores be able to give up meat for good and send their animals to a sanctuary, or will they send them to slaughter and face the prospect of serving up their former houseguests?’

Over three 60-minute episodes, the series will ‘draw on cutting edge studies into animal behaviour and intelligence, examine the farming practices required to meet the demands of hungry consumers, and look at the environmental impact of the meat industry. It will present surprising insights that challenge perceptions of why some animals become part of the family and others end up on the plate. At the end of three weeks, the families face a tough decision’.

Daniela Neumann, managing director at Spun Gold, said: “In this series we confront some really timely themes of ethical eating in a unique and entertaining fashion. Why do we find it acceptable to eat a lamb but we wouldn’t eat our pet dog? Could you go back to meat once you’ve put a name and face to a meal? This is a series that will combine amazing research about animal intelligence with some heartwarming moments.”

Nicola Brown, commissioning editor of specialist factual at Channel 4, said: “From environmental activism to vegan sausage rolls, the debate around eating meat and animal welfare is more prominent than ever before. Confronting the reality of an animal’s journey from field to plate, ‘Meat the Family’ will be a life changing and emotional experiment for all involved.”