Cutting Edge was a British TV documentary series broadcast by Channel 4. It had been Channel 4's flagship documentary series between 1990 and 2017 that focused on political and social issues.
Episodes
There have been numerous episodes from 1990 to 2017 and some of the highlights include:
Run of episodes in 2005, about "Anti-Social Old Buggers" which included elderly recipients of Asbos, "The Black Widow", "Gridlock" and "The House Clearers".
The Black Widow
Original airdate: 29 June 2005
Documentary on Dena Thompson, a woman who murdered her second husband but who was also found to have had a 20-year career of fraud, deception and bigamy. She was acquitted of murdering her third husband. 4.5 million people watched the documentary, a 22% share of that evening's TV audience.[2]
Cutting Edge covered Alain Robert, one of the most daring climbers in the world, on some amazing free climbs around the globe.[6]
Madeleine Was Here
Original airdate: 7 May 2009
Aired two years after the disappearance of missing child Madeleine McCann.[7]
Captive for 18 Years: The Jaycee Lee Story
Original airdate: 1 October 2009
About the kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard with interviews with people close to Jaycee when she was young, including family members, classmates and her headmistress.[8]
Katie: My Beautiful Face
Original airdate: 29 October 2009
Followed the recovery of former model Katie Piper from a brutal acid attack,[9] and which with 3.3 million viewers was the most-watched edition of the Cutting Edge strand in 2009; Piper's case has been subject to a large international response, and following the success of the original documentary Piper was invited to give Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message for 2009.
The documentary was nominated for "Best Single Documentary" at the BAFTA Television Awards in June 2010, but did not win - the trophy was awarded to BBC One's Wounded.[10] The previous month, director Jessie Versluys had won the Breakthrough Talent prize at the 2010 Craft BAFTA ceremony, for her credits including Katie: My Beautiful Face and The Hospital.[11]
Octomom: Me and My 14 Kids
Original airdate: 12 November 2009
Follows single unemployed mother Nadya Suleman from California, who in January 2009 gave birth to eight children.[12]
The Men Who Jump Off Buildings
Original airdate: 28 July 2010
About Dan Witchalls and Ian Richardson, who participate in the adrenaline sport, base jumping.[13]
Follows four Gypsy and Traveller brides as they plan their wedding day.[14] Screened in February 2010, drew 4.5 million viewers[15] and was subsequently commissioned for a spinoff series called Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.[16] This proved to be successful, with the second episode getting 7.4m viewers at its peak.[17]