I’ve been hit with the worst abuse of my career over Naked Education – trolls call me a paedophile, says Anna Richardson
ANNA Richardson has revealed she has experienced the worst online abuse of her career over new show Naked Education – with people branding her a “paedophile” who should be arrested.
The Channel 4 series, hosted by Anna, 52, with radio DJ Yinka Bokinni, 34, and former Love Island contestant Dr Alex George, 32, has attracted more than 1,200 complaints logged with broadcasting watchdog Ofcom.
The criticisms came after the spin-off of Naked Attraction showcased nudity to 14 to 16-year-olds – airing the scenes before the watershed.
Episodes also tackle issues including body hair, male body image, the effects of ageing and cosmetic surgery – as well as a naked bike ride through a public park.
Telly stalwart Anna told The Secret To… podcast: “I’ve had so much abuse online from Naked Education. I am so shocked.
“I’ve personally been subjected to abuse online which I have never had before in my career – and it’s totally unacceptable.
“The abuse that I’ve been receiving, and also the other presenters and the producers of the show, is that people are calling us paedophiles, that we are paedophiles, that I’m a paedophile, that I should be arrested, that we should all be arrested.
“I mean absolutely disgraceful.
“There’s a small strand within the show where Yinka Bokinni and a medical doctor are in a classroom sitting with a group of teenagers and they are teaching these teens about the naked human body and we have naked people in there.
“This has been done with all the checks and balances. It’s been done with the full consent of the parents. Every single health and safety measure and every single protocol has been put in place and followed.
“For some reason certain people on social media have become hysterical about this moment on Naked Education.”
Yet previously one of the elderly participants on the series has defended stripping in front of the teens.
Anna also reflected on her previous TV shows and their parallels.
She mused: “What’s interesting to me is that I did a very, very similar show about ten, twelves years ago called the Sex Education show, where we literally went round secondary schools teaching teenagers about sex education using naked adult bodies.
“Nobody batted an eyelid.”
The series is described by Channel 4 as “body-positive” and aims to “normalise all body types, champion people’s differences and break down stereotypes.”
Previously Anna, who also hosts the hit nude dating show Naked Attraction, admits this show is more conversational.
Anna commented: “Naked Education is sort of one step further than Naked Attraction, as it says: ‘Let’s normalise bodies, let’s have the conversation about what we go through and let’s actually educate the nation.”