Channel 4 defends corpse 'makeover'

The programme is being planned with the creator of Body Worlds

Channel 4 has defended a "serious and educational" TV show which follows the dissection and rebuilding of a human corpse.

Von Hagens wants to create a "landmark human being"

Independent production company Mentorn is proposing to interview a terminally ill patient - and then dissect and rebuild his or her body after death, incorporating "improvements".

The company, which also makes Question Time and Robot Wars for the BBC, is working on the proposal with the controversial anatomist behind the Body Works show in London, Professor Gunter von Hagens.

Mentorn executive producer Nick Curwin has maintained the programme, described in a company press release as the "ultimate makeover show", is a serious scientific inquiry.

'Modifications'

"To date, television programmes have tended to be in awe of human anatomy, but in fact it's flawed," said Mr Curwin.

"This documentary will reveal those flaws in an engaging way and our donor will go down in history, preserved for ever as what might have been if evolution had got us right," he added.

The "modifications" will be carried out by Professor von Hagens.

Body Worlds has been seen around the world

The changes may include increasing the number of ribs to give better protection to internal organs, creating backward-bending knees to lessen wear and tear on the joints and rearranging the trachea and oesophagus to stop food going down the windpipe by mistake.

A Channel 4 spokesman told BBC News Online the programme was a "serious and educational project, exploring a scientific frontier".

"Some people may find it hard to watch," said the spokesman, but added that the programme would require the "absolute and explicit consent" of the volunteer who was to take part.

In a statement for Mentorn, Professor von Hagens said: "This person will be a landmark human being."

But the idea has already attracted criticism from pressure group Mediawatch UK, who described it as "sick ratings chasing" and "sensationalist and provocative".

The programme makers are already proposing to exhibit what they call the "new, redesigned and improved human form" after the programme has been made.