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Stacey Dooley: Inside The Undertakers – New Documentary for BBC One

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2 months ago

September 30, 2023

Stacey Dooley Undertakers (Image Geoff Kirby)

BBC Factual has commissioned Firecracker Films to produce a new 60-minute documentary titled “Stacey Dooley: Inside The Undertakers,” in collaboration with Little Dooley and presented by award-winning presenter Stacey Dooley. The documentary aims to confront the taboo around death and follows Stacey as she explores the world of undertaking at one of the busiest family-run funeral businesses in the UK.

Stacey, in her previous BBC documentary “Inside the Convent,” sought answers from nuns about her fear of death, she is now a new mother and has heightened concerns about the future and death. In this new film, she joins the team of funeral directors at A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service in Nottinghamshire, immersing herself in every aspect of their work.

Throughout the documentary, Stacey not only learns about arranging funerals, coffin-making, embalming, and carving headstones but also explores the stories of others. She follows several funerals from start to finish, observing how faith and secular beliefs play a role during this significant moment.

Stacey said “Death is a topic that’s openly discussed in many other cultures, even celebrated in some instances, yet I am so awkwardly British about the whole thing! It is, of course, inevitable, and that’s why I wanted to really explore exactly what happens when we do die. This access allows us to ponder the bigger questions surrounding life, as well as witness the practical logistics of a funeral. I’d like to thank every family member that has allowed us to document their story. I’m so grateful.”

“Stacey Dooley: Inside The Undertakers” is a 60-minute production by Firecracker Films, presented by Stacey Dooley in collaboration with Little Dooley for BBC One. The executive producer is Sam Emmery, with Alice Bowden as the Producer Director and Julie Scott as the Head of Production at Firecracker Films. The documentary was commissioned by Daisy Scalchi, BBC Head of Religion & Ethics, under the Specialist Factual department.