WOMAN: '27-year-old Jamie Davidson|lives in Sheffield
with his girlfriend|of 10 years, Kirsty.
He enjoys an active life
and is the area manager|of an outdoor fashion store.
But Jamie's harbouring a very|dark secret, a dark brown secret.
He's totally addicted|to brown sauce.'
Life without brown sauce|would be horrendous.
'Jamie consumes|more than his body weight
of the brown stuff every year,
and his bizarre eating habits
are putting a big strain|on his relationship.'
It is quite a problem.
It impacts on normal home life|in terms of shopping, cooking.
'But Jamie can't stomach|anything else.
For him, if it ain't brown,|it ain't going down.'
It's crazy, isn't it?
'Helping Jamie over the next four|weeks to destroy his saucy demons
will be psychologist Felix Economakis|and nutritionist Charlotte Watts.
While Charlotte sticks|to her healthy eating guns...'
What happens if you bring it nearer?
That's what I'm trying to do.
This is real phobia territory.
'..Felix works to uncover|the reason behind his addiction.'
Mine and my father's relationship|is quite turbulent.
I hated it. I absolutely hated it.
'Will Jamie's burning desire|to quit the brown stuff be enough
to see his freaky eating|go up in smoke?'
Are you ready?!|Aye, man!
THEME MUSIC
'Geordie Jamie Davidson|grew up near Newcastle,
where he lived with his parents|and two sisters.
It was during his formative years
that the brown sauce obsession|really began to take hold.'
This problem's been going on|since Jamie was about six year old.
Never bothered him before that.
Afterwards, it was just essential
that this brown sauce|was always available,
and if there was none,|Jamie just would not eat.
'At the age of 10,|the family moved to Sheffield,
and what was already a difficult|relationship with his father
became worse.'
It was not a healthy,|good one at all.
It was a very forceful,|authoritarian role
that he took over me as a child.
'Jamie hasn't spoken to his dad since|his parents separated four years ago,
but he's still close|to his mum and sister,
who are both deeply concerned|about his brown sauce diet.'
He's not getting the proper food|inside that he needs.
It does...it does worry me.
'His sister has good reason|to be concerned.
Jamie only eats one meal - tinned|peas, mash and canned meat pudding,
and only when|smothered in brown sauce,
which is chock-full|with sugar and salt.'
I really do cover the food|with the brown sauce
so there's almost no food left.
I don't think Jamie could cope|without the brown sauce.
I just think he would stop eating.
I really do think he'd just give up.
If there's none in the house,|I just know that I'm not gonna eat.
I don't think I could|live without brown sauce.
'To make matters worse, Jamie|snacks on salty crisp sandwiches,
loads of sugary chocolate bars,
and then washes it all down
with an unhealthy amount|of concentrated orange juice.'
It's completely illogical to me
why I would be stuck|in this kind of diet.
'Whenever Jamie|tries to eat other foods,
he finds himself at the mercy|of forces beyond his command.'
My body just reacts|in a way I can't control.
My temperature|goes through the roof.
It's like I've lost the connection|between my body and my mind
and I can't control my body.
(LAUGHS)
'It's gotten so bad that if Jamie|could just stop eating, he would.'
If I could get away with|not eating any food, I'd do it.
If somebody brought a pill out
where you could just|eat one or two of these pills,
just swallow them down,|I'd take the pills quite happily
because I don't like|the process of eating.
Can I get a vegetarian|calzone, please?
'And Jamie's dysfunctional|relationship with food
makes him a less than romantic|dinner date.'
I won't be eating tonight,|thank you.
Can I just have|a bottle of beer, please?
Just the Italian lager?
Me and Jamie have never been able|to go out for a romantic meal.
It would be really special|if we could do that.
I'd love to be able|to just participate
and order something off the menu,
just sit down and just eat it|as normal people would.
'Jamie urgently needs help
if his future is to start|looking bright instead of brown.'
I'm completely desperate|to change my diet,
and 100% effort|will go into changing it
because it completely|affects my lifestyle.
'It's the first day of a month-long|dietary revolution for Jamie.
He's in London to meet nutritionist|Charlotte and psychologist Felix,
who will help him|to face his food fears.'
(ALL EXCHANGE GREETINGS)
I'm Felix. This is Charlotte.|Hello. Nice to meet you.
How was your trip?|It was good, thank you.
It was good, yeah? And you're|feeling confident for today?
Yeah, I'm feeling fine. Ready to go.|Excellent.
Well, you're gonna need|to put all your trust in us.
Are you ready to do that?|I am.
Great. Let's begin. This way.|Excellent! Come on, let's go.
NARRATOR: 'Before they begin|their work,
Charlotte and Felix|have a surprise for Jamie
which they hope will focus his mind.'
OK, Jamie, you are going to
face some difficult times|in the next couple of weeks.
We're gonna show you a film|to give you a bit of extra support
so that when times get tough|and you need a bit of inspiration,
you can refer back to this, OK?
Yeah, that's fine.|And we'll see you at the end.
Yeah, no worries.|See you soon.
See you soon.
Hi, Jamie, it's your mum here.
You know I love you so, so much,
but I just wish you would start|and eat something
and get some help for this,
and let's go out for a meal,|all the family,
and see you sit there in a chair|with a knife and fork
and eat a meal.
Hi, Jamie. This time I want you|to really listen to me.
I know you never listen to me.
I want my boys to look up to you,|seeing what you're eating
and saying, "Well, I want to eat|what Uncle Jamie's eating."
Hi, Uncle Jamie.
Stop eating brown sauce.
I want you to get better|and eat your veg.
Hey, pet, I'm so, so proud|of you for doing this,
because you're gonna be putting|yourself through hell and back,
I know you are.
This is a massive problem|and it affects our life so much,
and this is your shot.
This is your one chance to change,|and you've gotta take it,
because I'm worried|to death about you.
I love you.|Good luck with all of it.
PROJECTOR WHIRRS
OK, Jamie. So, you've heard from|the people who care about you most.
Yep.|Really worried about your health.
Any surprises there for you?
I hear it pretty much every day.|OK.
It comes from them...
Every time I go round to my mum's|for lunch, she'll say that.
Every time I see my sister,|she'll say that. It's fine.
Any message of support|is really good,
especially when it comes from|the little ones.
So, let's go and have a look at|exactly what you're eating
and look at how healthy or unhealthy|your diet actually is.
Are you ready?|I am.
Excellent. OK, let's go and do that.
'Felix and Charlotte have got|a saucy wake-up call for Jamie,
one they hope will shock him|into action,
if he doesn't bottle first.'
What do you think this is?
A crime scene made out of sauce.
(ALL CHUCKLE)|Yes, that's so true.
That's a very nice description.
This is the amount that you eat|in an entire year.
It's actually|more than your body weight.
'Jamie weighs 75kg,|just under 12 stone,
whereas the sauce weighs|a staggering 90kg, or 14 stone.'
This is something|that is a condiment,
so something that is designed to be|added in small amounts to food,
to something of substance|to give it flavour,
but you're really using it as|one of the mainstays of your diet.
Yep.
OK, well, we've looked at|your food diary,
and the rest of your diet|is made up of this over here.
So, what does this little platter|of food look like to you?
Lunch.|(OTHERS CHUCKLE)
Really? That's really scary to me.
It's distinctly lacking in|any colour
that might signify natural food.
So, breaking that down,|if we come over here...
What do you think this is?
That in a jar.|(CHUCKLES)
Well, what this is is the salt you|consume in a year from your food.
Now, this is quite heavy.|It's about 20kg.
So, look at this - this is what a|kind of average person has in a year,
and you're having|10 times more than that.
This is serious stuff here.
The other thing which is impacting|on your health, potentially...
This mountain of sugar is what|you're consuming in a year.
It's 200kg. That's more than|double your body weight.
And once again, this is what
an average person might consume|in a year.
It's about 33kg.
That's a huge difference, isn't it?
It's quite crazy, actually.
I mean, the salt is quite shocking,
cos I'd never thought|there was that much salt in my diet.
The sugar - it's quite weird.|I feel a bit like a crack addict.
Yeah, sugar has|highly addictive properties.
'The mountains of sugar and salt|Jamie eats
are the direct results|of the brown sauce, processed foods,
sugary snacks and gallons|of concentrated orange juice.'
So, what would you like to set as|your goal at the end of four weeks?
At the end of four weeks,|I'd like to
reduce my intake of sugar|from half of England's population
down to the average person,
and just be able to have a healthy,|balanced, nutritious meal.
Are you ready to go through|that process, make that transition?
Yeah, definitely.|Let's go cold turkey.
Excellent.
'In just four weeks,|Jamie must kick the brown stuff
and face up to the challenge of|a full, healthy meal without sauce,
something he's not managed|in over 20 years.'
It's gonna be particularly difficult|to wean Jamie off the brown sauce.
It's been his complete comfort food,|the thing he smothers everything in,
so that alone is gonna be|a massive issue.
What I was really surprised about|was the salt levels,
10 times as much salt that I'm|having as that I'm supposed to have.
I'm surprised my body|isn't dried out.
'Several hours later, and|Jamie arrives back in Sheffield.
His girlfriend Kirsty is out,
but she's left him|a tempting welcome home present.'
"Hi Jamie. Me and the cat|have missed you.
Here are some muffins for you. K."
Lovely gesture.
After today, seems a bit...|a little bit wrong.
I think I'll put them on the side|and see how this goes,
and try to hold off from eating them|for as long as I can.
'The muffin temptress Kirsty
returns from her day at work|as a child carer."
Hello, stranger.|Hey. How you doing?
Thank you for the muffins.|You're welcome.
I thought you were probably not|gonna be eating. You'll be starving.
Don't think...
The nutritionist would approve?|(LAUGHS)
Yeah.
So, it was quite...eye-opening|seeing how much sugar
and how much salt|is actually coming from my diet.
I have two jars of salt.|Oh, my God!
Like, two full jars of it.
And then a jar with|what your RDA should be,
which had that much in it,|and my two were full.
Was that really shocking?|The salt did.
A lot of it is just|how much sauce I have on things.
It's all in the sauce.
Bad, bad brown sauce!|Evil brown sauce!
(LAUGHS)|Yeah.
I really need to cut back|on my salt and sugar.
No, no...
Thank you for the muffins,|but after learning that...
I feel like some|really bad pet owner now.
You know how they've got,|like, an obese pet
and they've been feeding them,|like, Sunday dinners
and buying them|all these treats and stuff?
'Jamie may have|a deeper understanding
of just how unhealthy|his beloved brown sauce is,
but psychologist Felix|wants to try and understand
exactly why he has this saucy|obsession in the first place.'
Just tell me, Jamie,|what's your earliest memory
of sticking to this very rigid|kind of diet?
There's never been a time
when I can consciously remember|eating outside of the diet.
So it's from the word go for you?|Yeah.
So, when you were growing up,|Mum and Dad were in the picture,
so when you think of Mum,
what are the first three things|that come to mind?
Um...just happiness, comfortableness,|and love, really.
And the first three adjectives|when you think of Dad?
Dad is...
I struggle to think of anything|when I think of my dad,
cos I've tried to kind of block him|out for the last three, four years.
What's been happening in your life
that's led to this|wanting to block Dad out?
Just cos as a child,|it wasn't very pleasant
with him there growing up, you know.
I never felt supported, I never felt|looked after or nurtured in any way.
When I consciously think back|to that time,
it's not really good memories|that I've got, you know.
And, like, if I'm trying to|look through my eyes as a child,
I can never remember, like,|a happy moment with him.
The only image|I can remember, recollect
is me sat there with a meal in|front of us and my dad saying,
"Right, you need to eat that.
If you don't eat that,|you're getting it for your supper.
If you don't have it for your supper,|you'll have it the next day
for breakfast, lunch and so on|until you eat it."
That's the only vision I've got|of before I was 10.
And what did you do?|I didn't eat it.
You didn't eat it?
It just provoked another argument|where my mum was trying to protect us
and, like, she she used to|feed us under the table.
She just used to give us|a bar of chocolate or something
just so I'd have something|in my system.
Right.|Otherwise, I'd have gone hungry.
So, if there's tension with Dad,
then you may have linked|those unpleasant feelings
of trying to be controlled|to do something
with the food he was trying|to make you eat, you know.
I think it is linked,|and I'd like to just, you know,
work that a little bit|just to know how we can unlink it
so food just becomes food again.
You said you rebelled|a little bit against Dad,
and often, when I hear that|with people I work with,
they often have sort of
anti-authority kind of behaviours|and stuff.
I did have such a problem|with authority.
You know, I'd just turn round|and start a fight, or...
OK. A lot of...lot|of anger there. Yeah?
Mm-hm.
All right, Jamie,|thanks very much for that.
Thank you.
I think Jamie's food problem is|firmly rooted in his childhood,
and especially in his estranged|relationship with his dad.
Jamie has a lot of underlying anger|about what happened,
and that's what we really need|to focus on
if we want Jamie|to move on with his eating.
I used to have real, like,|anger situations
and authority-controlling situations,
and I thought|I'd left them all behind,
but to know that they might still|be there and present in us
was quite a wake-up call, really.
RELAXED MUSIC
'After his session with Felix, Jamie|wants to talk through his feelings
with someone who might be able|to shed some light
on what he remembers|as a difficult childhood.'
Hello there!
Haven't seen you for a while.
How you doing?|All right. How are you?
Good, thank you.
So, how was it, then?
Good. Quite hectic.
Tiring?|Yeah, quite exhausting.
All day, was it?
So, what have they discovered|about you?
We're just exploring|where it could come from
and what happens and things,
and he's teaming it up with|anger issues.
I don't think you've ever had|an anger problem.
I think I had in my teens,|not outwardly angry,
but it was quite a charged way|to handle situations.
So, we're just exploring|what's actually blocking us
from eating new things.
For me in the household with my dad|trying to tell us what to do
and force us what to have and|what to say and things like that,
you know, that wasn't|a healthy environment
for a young boy to be growing up in.
Like, it's gonna cause conflictions,
and my conflictions have been|put into my diet.
I wasn't aware you were|suffering with anything else
because your two working parents|are out going to work
and everything's a rush,|rush, rush, rush, rush,
and you're just, eat your tea,|eat your breakfast,
eat a dinner, eat a tea, a supper,|go to bed.
Gotta get things done|for work tomorrow morning.
But that's the problem, isn't it?|Mm-hm.
You thought it was an issue|with food...
And it's not.|..and it's turning out
not to be an issue with food.
It's turning out to be|a lot deeper than that.
The mind's a mysterious|place, isn't it?
Ta-ra, then, son.|See you later.
All right, then.
When I was telling my mum about|some of the roots of the problem
and where I think they're coming from|in the session with Felix,
I didn't want to upset her and|make her feel like it was her fault
for the kind of environment|when I was younger.
I don't want her to blame herself.
I think it was quite hard|for her to hear that.
All mum and dads want|is for their children
to eat and grow up to be happy,
and because it was always a struggle|with Jamie, it was a war at home.
It was, like, fights all the time,|and it was his dad, mainly,
that would say, "You will eat that,"
and I would be the one that's|sliding him a bar of chocolate,
so I feel guilty.
I do feel guilty.
But, you know, when you look back
and you think you could change|the times, you just can't do it.
'Today is Jamie's first one-on-one|session with Charlotte.
She'll be tempting him with an array|of delicious, healthy morsels
in an effort to start|weaning him off the sauce.'
Jamie's diet has been predominantly
just high in salt and sugar|for over 20 years.
This means he has|an extremely limited palate
and a deep fear of trying new foods.
'In the past, whenever Jamie's|tried new foods,
he's found himself|physically unable to eat them,
so he's cautious|about what's in store.'
I'm hoping when I get up there,
I'll be able to control|my body's reaction,
which will enable us to try as|many things as Charlotte will give
and I can get past|that initial barrier.
OK, Jamie.
What's your initial take|on this spread here?
I think it looks gorgeous.
Gorgeous?|Looks nice.
So why haven't you eaten it before?
(LAUGHS)|Because this isn't the problem.
The problem is, you know,|I can touch food,
I can cook food, I can prepare food.
Yeah.|I can do whatever with it.
But getting it past my lips|is a different issue.
Oh, OK. So it's kind of like|there's a barrier here.
Do you want to grab a plate?
My body's really warm.
So, let's try some celery.
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)|Whoa.
I noticed you weren't looking at it.|Yeah, I wasn't looking at it.
I was looking over there.|That was just bizarre.
It was almost like|my body was trying to shut down
and said, "It's not gonna happen."
You know?|Mmm, mmm.
Let's move to the egg.
So, I want you to|take a bit of the yellow,
a bit of the white on a spoon.
(BOTH LAUGH)
For some reason...|Trying to ignore what I'm saying.
For some reason, my body feels|a lot more anxious about this.
'It might look like|Jamie's chicken with the egg,
but his fear of food|is all too real.'
Perhaps if you bring it nearer?
That's what I'm trying to do.
Oh, so that's actually a block?|Yeah.
You actually can't|physically bring it closer?
'It takes 15 minutes|of painful procrastination
for Jamie to get the egg|anywhere near his mouth.'
Where's your anxiety now?|About nine.
Well done.
(CHUCKLES)
You went through an enormous process|there, didn't you?
Yeah. It's not logical.
It doesn't make any kind of sense.|Makes me feel slightly crazy.
I mean, it's egg on a spoon.
Jamie's problem seems|really extreme.
On one hand, he looks at healthy|food and he wants to eat it,
but he has a proper physical barrier|between him
and actually putting it|in his mouth.
This is real phobia territory,
something that's gonna take|a huge amount of work to tackle.
It's really just|brought an understanding
that it's a phobic reaction,|you know.
My body is phobic to anything|outside of my normal diet,
and the fact that it keeps food|physically away from me -
which isn't a mental decision,|it's a physical response -
it's just given me, like,|a whole new understanding
of the actual problem that I've got.
NARRATOR: 'In just three weeks,|Jamie's hoping to go out
for a meal in a restaurant|for the first time.
To help him reach this target,|Charlotte has set him homework -
first off, to get temptation|out of harm's way.'
I'm envisioning|quite a long, hard road.
'To encourage Jamie to ditch|his high sugar and salt diet,
Charlotte's packed him a hamper|with healthy food.'
Got some prunes, some carrots.|That's quite a lot.
'He must try something new|from it each day.
But for Jamie, even the most ordinary|food seems worryingly alien.'
Oh, God, you got hummus!
Some hummus.
Don't even know what that is.
It's lovely. It's really nice.
Like that?|Yeah.
It's crazy, isn't it?
'It's a difficult beginning|to the new food regime,
but Jamie keeps his sense of hummus|about it all.'
I can't believe|you've just done that.
That's so good!
I feel so useless just sat here,|like, staring at you.
I feel so useless just sat here|staring at it.
I just want to|kind of do it for you.
It's awful seeing you|this uncomfortable
and not being able to do anything.
It's only cos you want the hummus.|It's not. (LAUGHS)
'The following day,|Jamie meets Charlotte in London
for a doctor's appointment|in Harley Street.
Dr Pixie McKenna is a GP with a|special interest in eating problems.
She's run tests on Jamie|and has a serious warning
about the impact his diet's having|on his health.'
Good to finally meet you, Jamie.|I'm Dr Pixie.
Hi, Dr Pixie.
You're aware of how much sugar|you take in?
Yes, I am.
Long-term, all of this sugar|is gonna have
disastrous consequences for you,
because although|you're lean and you're fit,
this is eventually going to|cause problems with your weight
and ultimately put you at risk|of developing diabetes,
which will have very, very serious|consequences for your heart,
for your kidneys, for your erectile|function - multitude of problems.
But actually, for the sake|of adjusting your sugar intake now,
you know, it just makes sense.
The other thing you take in loads|of in your brown sauce diet is...
Salt.|Yeah.
You are putting yourself at risk|of not now, but in the future,
some serious medical problems.
This is a stomach.
It's a little stomach, OK?
And when you have|a lot of processed foods
and you have periods where you|don't eat, so starvation periods,
it stimulates acid in your stomach,
and what happens is you get|inflammation of the stomach, OK?
So that's, like, tearing|the lining of your stomach.
That then progresses to|putting a hole in your stomach,
which is what|we commonly call an ulcer,
and then worst case scenario is when
that ulcer drills|right through your stomach wall,
which is a thing called a perforated|ulcer, which will kill you.
'The main symptom of an ulcer is
a burning or gnawing feeling|in the stomach area.
Citrus drinks and spicy foods|can make the pain worse.
By eating a healthy, balanced diet,
stomach ulcers can be avoided|in the first place.'
Bad diet, high salt,|eating erratically, you know,
busy fella, running round,|buzzing round - it's not good.
Not good signs, is it?|Not good signs.
So, everything|we've talked about here
keeps leading us back|to the sugar and salt.
I'm just looking forward to|the change.
Good.
I know that if|I don't change my diet,
in the future I'm going to have all|the problems the doctor discussed,
and, you know, it's not nice to know|that you'd be going down that road
and you'd be having to|deal with these things,
because you just want to enjoy your|life and be active with your life.
'The last time they met,|Jamie spoke to Felix
about his feelings of resentment|towards his dad.
Felix thinks|this needs to be addressed
if Jamie's ever going to start|enjoying food.'
In my last session with Jamie,
I picked up a lot of underlying|anger towards his father.
Now, the thing is that|he's associated a lot of anger
with his dad in the food|his dad tried to make him eat.
So what I'm hoping|Jamie gets out of today
is that he's able to connect|those feelings of anger,
acknowledge them,|have a channel to vent them,
and that's gonna|help him process them
and therefore help him|move on with his eating.
Hey, man.|You OK?
Yeah, yeah, good.
Do you have any idea|why we're here today?
None at all.|OK.
Well, I actually want you to really|connect to a state of anger today
and really get in the groove|and get in the spirit.
Allow yourself. Give yourself|permission to be angry.
So, right now, just think about|what really ticks you off in life.
Ignorance.
So ignorance really makes you angry?|Yeah.
Stay with that feeling.
What I want you to do,|take this spray can
and put "ignorance"|wherever you like on this car
in big, bold letters.
HEAVY ROCK MUSIC
And what else really ticks you off?
Unfairness.
Any kind of authority.
So, Jamie, in the boot here
we've got a couple of hammers|and a baseball bat.
So I want you to pick your weapon|and smash through those words,
just go ape on this car.
Jamie, as you do,|can you shout the words?
Unfair.
Ignorance.
Ignorance!
Authority.
How you doing?|All right.
What did it feel like just then|while you were doing that?
Oh, it felt quite good.
Good kind of having that release.
Your feelings towards your dad,
I think they've spilled over|into your food.
Are you seeing that connection?|Yep.
Yeah?
As of today, I want you just|to acknowledge those feelings.
You've connected them.|You've even had a release of them.
And to realise that, you know,
food is an innocent victim|that got caught in the crossfire.
So, do you get that?|You get that now, yeah?
See, I know my problem|isn't with the food, you know.
That's a by-product|of the problem that I've got.
So the food's quite...|it's irrelevant to me. It's how...
My body's reacting to food,
but it's not the food|that's stimulating that reaction.
I think today was|a real breakthrough for Jamie
in that he could release all|this pent-up anger he's had inside,
and he now realises|these negative feelings
were towards his dad and not food,
and this should help him|to move on with his new diet.
But I still may need|one more session with him
to fully remove|this block he has with his food.
If I can separate the food issue|for the time being
with the issue with the emotions,
it might free me up|to really expand on my diet.
An email's just come through|from Charlotte.
Ooh.
NARRATOR: 'Charlotte's keen|to build on Felix's progress.
She's sent Jamie instructions|for his next homework task,
something designed to turn him on|to healthier foods.'
"Feed me baby".|(LAUGHS)
"One of your issues is struggling
to put food in your mouth|and enjoy it."
'As he finds putting food into|his mouth such a struggle himself,
Charlotte thinks it might be easier|if someone else does it for him.'
"Get Kirsty to feed you|and have some fun."
OK.
If that means, you know,|I sit on the couch, cook a meal,
come over and feed as well,|I'm playing the X-box,
I'm all in support|of what Charlotte's put.
Oh, yeah, I bet you will be.|(LAUGHS)
Right, honey.
We've got grapes.
You can feed me grapes for|the rest of the year if you want.
Yoghurt.|What's in the yoghurt?
It's just a toffee yoghurt.
If we're gonna do this, let's do it.|Bring the yoghurt out.
OK.
Have I got to blindfold you?
It's too early in the day for that.|(LAUGHS)
I feel better doing this|with clothes on.
(LAUGHS) You ready?
Yeah. (CHUCKLES)
Well done!
I think that's something|I could get used to.
You could eat that, then?|No, you feeding us.
(LAUGHS)
'By handing over the control|to Kirsty,
Jamie is able to overcome|the physical barrier
preventing him from|trying new foods.'
Here you are. I've two different|types of cheese for you here.
So, you ready?|Yeah.
Go.
OK, I've got some strawberries.
I'll have that one.|(LAUGHS)
Look at you, with your head|down at the plate!
Just got rammed into my mouth,|so that was good,
because it...you know, I didn't have|the time for my body to react,
to start thinking|and overthinking about it all.
'But the real test comes
when Jamie tries to eat new foods|again on his own.
Not a big one.
So, this is the scrambled egg|I'm gonna try.
The temperature's not|what it used to be,
as in my body temperature|is not really high.
It's like a three to four|out of 10.
It seems to be getting a lot easier|to be able to try foods
and get through that barrier|that used to stop us, you know,
where my body just used to
physically stop the food|from getting anywhere near us.
It seems like every day,
that barrier's just been|getting worn away and worn away.
'Today, Charlotte's brought Jamie|to the Good Food Show in Birmingham.
He's succeeded in getting new foods|into his mouth.
The question now is can he develop|his palate and start to enjoy them?'
I'm meeting him here today,
where everyone has|a shared excitement in food,
and I'm really hoping that some|of this is gonna rub off on him.
Hi, Jamie. Nice to see you again.
The aim of today is to try and find
new flavours,|tastes that excite you,
that you feel some kind of|emotional connection to.
How does that sound?|Sounds great.
Excellent. (LAUGHS)
'With over 500 stalls of produce|at the show,
even a freaky eater like Jamie|should be able to find something
to tickle his tastebuds.'
Sun-dried tomato, garlic,|chilli pepper and cheese.
Try the hot one for a starter.|BOTH: No.
Ready?|Yep.
Go.
So, that one's garlic,|that I just ate?
Yeah, you just ate garlic.|All right.
Did you know that?|No.
(LAUGHS)
You just ate a whole garlic clove.
That's really going in|the deep end, isn't it?
Yeah, yeah, great.
We're waiting for|the revelatory moment of joy.
(LAUGHS) It will come.|It will come at some point.
NARRATOR: 'After being barraged|for two decades by sugar and salt,
Jamie's sense of taste|has been totally numbed.'
Thank you. Cheers.|Thanks for your help, man.
Want to try some free blueberries,|all the way from South America?
Top of the seed food chain.|I just pop it?
Yep. Sorry, I have to have one.
Good for your eyesight.
Feels like I'm eating a plant.
Yes. (LAUGHS)
'Not used to|the diverse flavours of food,
Jamie's struggling|to find a taste he enjoys.'
Is there any...excitement?|Not really.
There's nothing there. I don't think|I'd look forward to this.
Shall we go?|Yeah, let's go.
Compared to last time I saw him,|Jamie's doing amazingly well.
He's trying and|he's entering into the spirit.
The only trouble is, he's still got|this almost, like, numbness.
He can't really taste it fully yet,|or enjoy it.
Probably gonna add a bit more.|I think this is a bit too much.
'But there's one food|which should be able to penetrate
even the most insensitive palate.'
Here. Look at this.|Yeah, look at this.
This blend is Rogan Josh.|Why do you love curry?
Out of everything, why curry?
Why curry?
You have fish and chips,|half an hour later,
an hour later, you're hungry again.
Have a curry,|it really fills you up.
Come here, darling.|It's balti, chickpeas in balti.
Have a taste.|Thank you.
Let me know what you think, darling.
What, they want me to tell them?|Yeah.
It's easy with the chicken.|Is that right?
First curry you've ever had?|Yeah. I've never had curry.
(ALL TALK AT ONCE)
Do you want|a little more kick in it?
No, I don't.|(LAUGHS)
He does! So, what do you think?
Your curry's a lot better|than I thought it would be.
Thank you very much, sir.|Very nice.
His first curry.|Oh, that's great. That's great.
That's positive, and you're smiling!
I think my mouth's been burnt|into a smile.
Good! (LAUGHS)
'Jamie has finally found a food
to match his burning desire to|change his freaky eating habits.'
I'm quite proud of myself,|of what I've achieved this morning.
I think it's been good.|Maybe curry is the new brown sauce.
Rather than having brown sauce,|I'll have a curry.
'Back in Sheffield, Felix has|asked Jamie to visit his sister.
Perhaps she is someone who can shed|some light on what Jamie sees
as their dad's role|in his eating problem.'
So I'm going to see my sister now|to just talk about my childhood
and all the issues around me dad.
My sister's the only one, really,|like, in my immediate family
that still keeps in touch
and maintains a relationship|with my dad.
So I imagine it's gonna be a bit of|a struggle just to make her realise
and even possibly just to see|where I'm coming from, really.
'Jamie's never visited|Michelle's new house.
He's also never eaten anything|she's ever made.'
Hiya.|Hi. How you doing?
All right. You?|Good.
Welcome to my new house.
So, how have you|been getting on, then?
Fine. Really good.|Good.
Can't believe|what you've been eating.
When I was talking to Mum,|I says, "No way!"
I'm gonna make a sandwich|for dinner. You gonna have one?
No, I'm good. I'm not hungry.
Well, you're eating|a lot of things now,
so I want you to eat what I make.
I'm not hungry.|Please! Just a little sandwich!
I've gotta make mine and Declan's.|Grub it up, then.
OK, will do.|If I'm hungry, I'll have a bite.
All right.
It all stems back|to when I was six or seven...
Excuse me. Yeah?
..and how my dad was in the house.
Right.
Like, obviously, all of the shouting|and the abusiveness
and drunkenness, and stuff like that,|all coming from that.
What, your food bit does?|Yeah.
Why?|Cos it's not an issue with food.
I don't have a problem with food.
My mind's just made food an issue
to disguise the actual issue|that was lying underneath.
Yeah.
Which was, like, a hatred|and an anger for my dad
and a massive problem with authority
stemming from when I was seven|and he was telling us what to do,
and growing up in that kind of...
Do you just want|half of this with me?
Yeah.|So, it all stems back from that.
Right. How come I didn't get none?
How come I'm all right?
Cos it represents different things|in different people.
Ooh, I'm excited, making this!|This is right good. (CHUCKLES)
I can't believe you're eating|my food. (LAUGHS) It's right good.
First time I've had|a ham salad sandwich.
Just can't believe|you've eaten that.
I'm only used to seeing you|eating crisp sandwiches,
or just plain|bread and butter, or...
Brown sauce.|You have come on such a long way.
Well...|It's nice to see you.
Yeah, you too, and|don't leave it too long again
before you come round.
Thank you for the sandwich.|Next time, roast dinner!
(CHUCKLES)|Yeah!
Trying to explain where|it all comes from to Michelle
is really quite a challenge.
She didn't want to talk about it.
She just tried to turn it round|and say,
"Well done for your progress,|well done for your progress,"
without actually wanting to pay|too much attention to the root cause.
So that was quite disappointing.
'It's less than a week|until Jamie's final challenge,
a meal out in a restaurant.
The last time he met Charlotte,
he discovered a taste|for the hot and spicy,
so today she plans to explore|this new avenue further.'
My mission today is|to ignite his love of food
through the curry route,
so he can actually get through|whole meals because he likes them.
'Charlotte's taking him to the|biggest curry factory in the country
to immerse him in the world|of Indian spices.'
Smells amazing, doesn't it?|Yeah, it smells quite nice.
'The factory even has|its own TV studio,
where Jamie's meeting|one of the onscreen chefs,
a strangely familiar face.'
So, Jamie, this is Tari...|(BOTH EXCHANGE GREETINGS)
..who you may remember|from the Good Food Show.
Yes, but you've had a trim.|(LAUGHS) Yes, that's right, yeah.
'This time, Tari's gonna teach Jamie|how to cook a curry.'
OK, Jamie, you want to|come over here?
OK, you're gonna cook a tarka dahl,
and I'll teach you|exactly what to do, yeah?
Cool.
What you add first|is your ginger and garlic.
That much?|Yes, that's great.
Bit of seasoning.
These are red lentils.|Just boil them.
That's great.
Few more, at least four more.
Family's big.|(LAUGHS)
Jamie, this taste of tarka dahl|should be more of ginger and garlic
when you taste it.
That's why it's called tarka dahl.
So, are you having some?
More than that.|(BOTH LAUGH)
We've gotta get your meals...
Your proportioning is still|on the smaller side, isn't it?
Oh, it smells lovely.
You cooked this, Jamie.|Let's see if I can say good.
Mmm!|Absolutely beautiful.
What do you think, Jamie?
Well, since I cooked it, I'm gonna|say it's the best one I've had.
(ALL LAUGH)
It's all right.|What do you think of the texture?
It's different.|Would you go into curries now?
Would you say, "Yes, I'll have a go|with this, I'll go with this"?
I am amazed at how easy it was.|Like, it looks easy.
Yeah.|Mm-hm.
You can't go wrong with a curry,|to cook a curry.
You cannot go wrong.
That was great.|I really enjoyed doing it.
I think that guy's awesome, you know.|He's such a fun, bubbly character.
And he had a lot|of passion for his curry.
Really glad I've done it.
Had a really good time,|especially making my own curries.
I feel a lot more confident now
about putting it all together|and cooking it,
and actually sitting down|and eating the final result.
Jamie's done really, really well.
He's come a long way
for someone who is changing|the habits of over 20 years,
but he's still just putting|small amounts in his mouth,
so there's a way to go|from that to a whole meal.
I really hope he can do it.
Looks a little dry.
'Charlotte gives Jamie|one last piece of homework
ahead of his final challenge|in a few days' time -
to cook and eat|a whole curry at home.'
I am supremely confident|that this is going to be
the greatest chicken korma ever,|and I hope Kirsty really likes it.
Right. That will be ã14.99.
(LAUGHS) Thank you.
It looks very nice. I think|you've done a really good job.
I'm setting the bar really high|for you, though.
You're never gonna get one|this good again.
(LAUGHS)
Looks a bit pink in there.|Why don't you just eat it?
Mmm.
God.
That chicken's not cooked.|It is cooked.
Try it with a bit of yoghurt on.
The chicken's definitely cooked.|No, it's not.
It is.|It's not.
It is.
So, do you think you're gonna|eat all that, then?
No.|Why not?
No way. Oh, I'm a bit full.
'Jamie leaves his curry|virtually untouched.
It seems that while he can make the|small steps, he's still a long way
from making the giant leap|to eating a whole plate of food.'
It's still frustrating for us to...
You know, I'm used to|trying so many different things,
having three or four bites|and going back
and another two bites of something,
but actually finishing a meal|is still proving quite a challenge,
like, finishing a new meal,|and I don't know what that is.
I need to get past that. I think|it's gonna be a long way off.
'Felix meets Jamie one final time
in an effort to break down|the remaining barrier
that's stopping him|from eating full meals.
He has a surprise planned.'
Part of Jamie's brain is still|telling him that food is a threat,
so today's the last push for|Jamie to be able to do something,
to learn mind over matter
and to be able to tell his brain|once and for all
that he can eat food,|he can relax through it
and even enjoy the experience.
Hi, Jamie.
So, why do you think|I've brought you here?
No idea.|All right.
Well, this will level down. When it|does, what would you think about
if I told you I want you|to walk across this?
It'd be a little bit risky now.|Yeah.
(LAUGHS)
My feet might get a little bit hot.|Right.
So, your body and your feet|are telling you this is dangerous.
Every instinct is telling you,|"Don't do this.
This is gonna hurt me. It's scary."
Would you agree?|Oh, yeah, definitely.
Now, that's exactly what|your body is doing with food,
and today, really, I want you
to have an experience|of mind over matter.
So, you up for it?|Yeah, definitely.
Good man.
Well, let's introduce you|to instructor Tony,
who's gonna guide you through it.
Hi, Jamie.|Hi, Tony. How you doing?
Nice to meet you.
There's no trickery involved|in what we're doing here.
This is about as real as it gets.
Just come over here with me|for a second.
'After gearing himself up,|Jamie's ready for the challenge,
but can he really go from hot curry|to hot coals?
So that was six steps,
six steps that we've got|to go over these coals.
'If he can walk on fire,
then putting new foods in his mouth|should be a walk in the park.'
DRUMS PLAY
Now, just take your shoes and socks|off for me, please.
That's good, that's good.
Keeping the physiology big,|really nice and big. Just one step.
Right, Jamie,|are you ready to do this?
Aye aye, man.|Here we go.
Standing nice and big for me,|breathing nice and big.
Here we go, Jamie. What's your name?|Jamie!
Are you ready?|Aye, man!
Show me! Come on!
Yes, yes, yes, yes!|(ALL CHEER)
Go, Jamie! Whoo!|Well done, brilliant!
What do you feel like right now?
Feel good. Feel great.
You just walked across|those burning coals.
It's just, like, yeah, this is good,|this is good!
Loved it. I think it's really good!|I'm really pleased with myself.
No pain?|Nope.
That's fantastic. Mind over matter.
It's safe, it's enjoyable, and|I want you to do the same thing,
apply the same lessons to food,
and if you can do this,|I think you can do anything, yeah?
So, brilliant!
Fire-walking, sitting down|eating a salad. (CHUCKLES)
It's not really the biggest battle|I'm ever gonna face in my life,
so I think he just wanted to give|a physical representation of that,
something I can visualise|if I'm coming up against something
and just remember back to.
'It's been four weeks since|Jamie agreed to stay off the sauce
and transform his diet.
Today, it's time|for his final challenge.'
I really want to test Jamie.
He's become very comfortable|with curry and spices,
so I need to just|expand his palate a little,
which is why I've chosen Thai.
'Unable to be with him in Sheffield,
Charlotte and Felix|have sent him a letter.'
"Final details|of the restaurant enclosed,
where your family and friends|will be waiting this lunchtime.
And remember, Jamie,|try to choose a healthy option.
We hope you enjoy it. Good luck."
It'll show how far I've come
if I can even order something|off the menu.
Hopefully I'll find something|I enjoy, that I like.
But I do think|if I complete this challenge,
it's the end of the brown sauce.
Hello. Good afternoon.|(SPEAKS IN THAI) Come through.
'Jamie's girlfriend, family|and two of his mates will be there
to give him moral support.
None of them have ever seen him eat|a full meal in a restaurant before.'
This is massive. I don't know|how he's gonna cope with it.
That's quite a large quantity|of food for Jamie to have,
and I think that might be a thing|that he struggles with,
cos he's not used to|having that much.
I think it's gonna be|right scary for him,
because it's nothing|he's used to at all,
and I think...|I don't think he'll do it.
He's never, ever had|anything like this before.
I think it's just gonna panic him.
Hello!|(ALL EXCHANGE GREETINGS)
Hello, guys.|You all right?
Yeah. Yourselves?|I'm fine.
Thank you.
'Jamie makes a positive start,|diving straight in
and ordering without hesitation.'
Hi.
Can I have the...|chicken green curry?
Very good.|Well done, Jamie.
'Jamie's not the only one|at the table
who's never eaten a Thai meal before.
Neither has his mum,|sister or girlfriend.'
Thank you.|(WAITRESS SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
Good luck, Jamie.|(ALL AGREE)
Thank you very much.|Enjoy your meal, everybody.
(ALL TALK AT ONCE)|Good luck, Mum. Good luck, Michelle.
(ALL LAUGH)
Bit spicy.
On the tongue.|(BOTH LAUGH)
'Jamie's making headway.
In a surprise reversal, it's|the others who are struggling,
especially girlfriend Kirsty.'
It tasted different,|and I don't like that.
'And a chip dipped in curry sauce|proves too much
for sister Michelle to cope with.'
Sorry. (LAUGHS)
You all right?|No.
(LAUGHS)
You're a really supportive table,
really, like, helping us out|with my...
'But Jamie is doing better|than everyone else at the table
with his green chicken curry.'
You've come on so much.|More than youse!
I know!|(ALL TALK AT ONCE)
I feel as though there's|something wrong with me now
because you eat more than me.
Never been like that, has it?
'Jamie's only a couple of mouthfuls|off completing the challenge,
and he's still hot to trot.'
Is that really fiery?
What I'm eating?|Yeah.
You've just put a massive|piece of chilli in your mouth.
Is that what that is?|Yeah.
Oh, it was the chilli.|It's a bit warm.
Yeah?|(ALL TALK AT ONCE AND LAUGH)
Whoo!|Yeah?
It's all right, though.
(ALL TALK AT ONCE)
Proud of you.|(SIGHS)
I think Jamie's done the best|out of all of us.
That is just mind-blowing.
(LAUGHS)
'A triumphant Jamie|then makes one more attempt
to explain to his family|the root of his eating problem
and lay the past to rest|once and for all.'
Yeah, so it was never|an issue with food, you know.
Like, it was never there with food.
Food wasn't the problem at all.
It was a problem with the authority,|with the angst and the anger.
The whole eating thing with my dad,|you guys know all about that,
with, you know, just having a meal|put down in front of you
and saying, "You will eat that,|you will eat that."
"You'll do that, you'll do that."
And my body just got into|this rebellious streak
of, "Actually, no, I won't."
If I was to tell my dad|that you just ate that,
I don't think he'd believe me.
I don't think he would.
I think we should all|have a toast to Jamie,
because this is the end|of an era, really.
It's the end of the old stuff,|you know,
and it's the new stuff|that's coming into your life,
and I'm really proud of you.
Thank you.|A toast to Jamie.
(ALL TALK AT ONCE)
Good luck.
That's just blown my mind,|absolutely blown my mind.
I never, ever thought|I would see this day.
God, I am so proud of him.|He'll go out anywhere now.
He can go to the other end|of the world and eat, you know,
not just another restaurant.
He's come so, so far,|and I'm chuffed to bits.
I'm so proud of him.|I just feel dead happy.
You were so good!
I can't believe|Jamie has just done that!
That's so good!|I'm thrilled to bits.
I love him to bits. I think|he's ace. He's done brilliantly.
It was great to go out for the first|time, you know, family, friends
and finish a meal.
I think the future|looks quite good now,
because I'm just|relaxed around food.
I can just try it|and, on the evidence,
better than some other people,|so it's all good.
'Jamie calls Charlotte|with the good news.'
Hello, Charlotte.|Hi, Jamie. How did it go?
It went well. I completed it.|Brilliant!
Hope you feel pleased with yourself.|I do, actually.
Sitting next to my family,|who struggled with their meals,
I feel quite pleased and happy that
I'm the normal one|of the family now.
(LAUGHS) That's great.
Take care.|Thank you, Charlotte. Bye-bye.
Cheers, Jamie. 'Bye.
Well, he's done really, really well.|Great!
He's just come along|in leaps and bounds.
Yeah.
And if you think about it,
when he was first|trying new foods back then,
he was having a true phobic|reaction, so this is huge progress.
Well, here's to Jamie.|Absolutely.
And keep up the good work.
'One month later, and Jamie hasn't|given brown sauce a second thought.
He's eating full meals|in restaurants...'
(LAUGHS)
'..his culinary skills|are getting better day by day...'
Dinner is served.
'..and he's still taking|full advantage
of girlfriend Kirsty feeding him.'
Closed Captions by CSI -|Debbie Coughlin