Scottish TV presenter takes on a members' challenge of a gluten-free diet

Border Television presenter, Gillian Fraser, will spend a week on a gluten-free diet this week, beginning 10th November, following a challenge from one of our members.

Border Television is the most widely watched regional evening news programme in the country. During the week, Gillian will discover, at least in part, what it is like to live with coeliac disease. She will be keeping a regular video diary of her gluten-free diet and there will be weeklong coverage of her progress in Border TV's 6.00 - 6.30pm programme throughout the week beginning 12th November.

Coeliac UK member, Jean Foster, contacted Border Television, her regional TV Company, to challenge them to find a presenter who would be willing to spend a week on a gluten-free diet to highlight some of the difficulties faced when cooking, shopping and eating out.

On Monday, 12th November, the programme will be interviewing local GP Dr Chaudhri, who as well as having coeliac disease himself, will be talking about the pre diagnosis, diagnosis and maintenance of coeliac disease and explain why it is sometimes difficult to identify. In addition a dietitian from West Cumberland Hospital will be live in the studio on Monday to give advice on gluten-free eating.

Jean is also being interviewed herself as a case study to explain first hand what it is like to live with coeliac disease; her interview will be shown on Tuesday or Wednesday. Finally, on Friday, 16th November, Gillian will share her experiences of living on gluten-free diet for one week.

The programme will include information on gluten-free foods and will highlight a local food fair, which Jean is organising for 17th November in Penrith.

For those not in the Border Television Region, we have been informed that access to the coverage should be available at the ITV Border website www.itvlocal.com/border/news either as the programme goes out between 6.00 - 6.30pm or soon afterwards.

The episode shown on Monday 12 November can be viewed by clicking here.   The section on coeliac disease starts after 15 minutes.

The episode shown on Wednesday 14th November can be viewed by clicking here.

The episode shownon Friday 16th November can be viewed by clicking here.