Live Well With The Drug Free Doctor with Rangan Chaterjee on Channel 4

A mainstream spotlight on chronic condition recovery

Dr Chatterjee featuring chronic pain recovery stories with SIRPA on Channel 4

It is not often that I get to shout about a primetime TV programme that aligns so perfectly with the work we do here, but this week offers a wonderful exception.

This Thursday, 8th January 2026 at 8pm in the UK, Channel 4 is airing a special documentary, Live Well with The Drug-Free Doctor, hosted by Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

Many of you will already be familiar with Dr Chatterjee. I posted about his brilliant podcast interview with Dr Howard Schubiner a while back, which is still one of my most favourite conversations about mind-body medicine.

I have always respected Chaterjee's compassionate perspective on health; he consistently champions the idea that we shouldn't just be treating symptoms with prescriptions, but rather looking at the whole person - our lifestyle, our environment, and our emotional world. In this new special, he supports three people with long-term conditions, including chronic pain, as they explore how to reclaim their health without relying solely on medication.

Why this episode is so special

What makes this documentary particularly close to my heart is that it features trusted colleagues and friends from SIRPA (Stress Illness Recovery Practitioners' Association), and fellow recoverees' stories. I've heard that Dr Schubiner will also feature so let's see how it is presented in it's final format!

It is a significant moment to see the chronic pain recovery approach we value so highly being given a platform like this. Dr Chatterjee invited the SIRPA team to guide the section on pain, and I am so pleased that the nation will get to see the work of practitioners like Irralee Andrzejowska. She was filmed working with a client, Colm, who agreed to share his experience of a somatic tracking session on camera.

For those of you who have worked with these tools, you know how powerful mind-body medicine can be in reteaching the brain's safety pathways. Seeing it demonstrated on national television is a huge step forward in raising awareness. You will also hear from Fiona Symington, who bravely shares her own recovery journey - a powerful reminder that healing is absolutely possible.

A shift in the narrative

We often talk about the importance of understanding the root causes of our symptoms and moving away from fear. I hope that this programme will open minds and help more people realise that they have agency over their own recovery. It is a validation of the neuroplastic approach that is changing so many lives.

When to watch

The programme airs on Channel 4 this Thursday, 8 January 2026, at 8pm. I'll hopefully be able to post a link to watch it on catch up after it airs!

I will certainly be tuning in, and I would love to hear your thoughts on it once you’ve watched. It feels like a very positive way to begin the year.