E4 has enjoyed rare access to the Halo to film a series of short programmes, charmingly titled ‘Gross Up’, aimed at 13-16 year olds.
A new TV series involves a number of young ‘influencers’ having an assortment of personal items swabbed for examination by some brave members of the microbiology team prior to being cleaned and decontaminated by a professional cleaner.
Pathway spoke to Sonic Healthcare UK’s Ashleigh Dadson-Butt, who was suddenly thrust into becoming ‘the face’ of microbiology for a week, sharing the limelight with ‘super- cleaner’ Kyle Weinberg and presenter Alex Lathbridge.
When she isn’t busy pursuing her exciting new career in showbiz, Ashleigh is an Advanced Specialist Biomedical Scientist and Training Manager in medical microbiology. She describes her initial hesitancy when she was approached by the production company.
“When I first got the email I was so scared because I’m not the kind of person who likes being filmed.”
She rose to the challenge, however, after some encouragement from her husband.
The process was hardly straightforward. An eight-person film crew took over the entire mycology lab, along with a presenter and cohort of Tik-Tok-ing contributors, whose belongings became the subject of the microscope’s merciless scrutiny.
Filming lasted a week, with more than a couple of logistical challenges cropping up along the way. It’s clear that the project was a big commitment.
“I was very tired - I’m not used to doing such long days. I was out of the house from 6:30 in the morning to 10 at night.”
As well as thanking her husband for taking on extended childcare duties, she would also like to thank the mycology team for so gamely relocating for the week.
“I’d like to say a massive thank you to the mycology staff for doing that, because it was a pain for them - there were IT changes that had to be made, and they were in and out of the lab and trying to work around the filming.”
She extends her particular thanks to her colleagues Matt Grayson and Alan Spratt for keeping her sane and being “so supportive”.
So, what microbial delights did she encounter?
“There were some organisms I wouldn’t expect to find where they were found. There was an awful lot of an organism called Staphylococcus Saprophyticus, which we only ever see in urine, and is found on the feet and groin.”
She also learnt a lot of troubling information about vape guns that she would probably rather forget.
“Vape fluids are absolutely chock-full of fungi and bacteria, and one bloke was literally inhaling fungus and E-coli through his vape, which is just horrifying!”
Ah, the glitz and glamour of TV...
She confronted any stagefright in an effort to shine a spotlight on her lab, of which she is very proud.
“I love this lab. I was part of the transformation team when we first joined together and I was one of the first in the Halo. I wanted people to see how gorgeous it is, because there’s not another lab like our lab and I was just really keen to show it off. I just really hope it comes across in a good light.”
It remains to be seen whether Ashleigh will even watch the finished product when it airs in the new year. She may, indeed, be crouching behind her sofa.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch it!”
The rest of us, however, very much look forward to rolling out the red carpet and celebrating her and Sonic Healthcare UK’s moment in the sun!
Gross Up will be a True North production for E4, with follow ups on YouTube and TikTok.
Gemma Povey, Production Manager for TrueNorth Productions:
“We could not be more grateful to the team at Sonic Healthcare UK for the support, time and resources given to produce this amazing series, Gross Up.
“The series aims to be fun yet factual, and educate young audiences that grime is everywhere!
“Throughout the process of swabbing, growing, isolating and revealing the bacteria on everyday items, the Halo team have been amazing.
“The series wouldn’t be of the high calibre it is without the insight provided by Ashleigh and the resources of the whole service. A huge, warm thank you to everyone.”