Channel 4's new documentary The Experiment has left some viewers so disturbed they switched it off after just 20 minutes, while others have branded it "essential viewing". The film aired on October 21 and sparked immediate conversation on social media.
The programme is fronted by disability advocate Sophie Morgan and actor Mat Fraser. It sees members of the public thrown into a social experiment that uncovers attitudes towards disabled people. Civilians are invited into a fake care facility called SegriLife, which uses methods influenced by the Nazi regime repackaged as progressive care. The visitors are real people who applied to appear on a TV show, while the residents are actors.
The social experiment
Mat and Sophie watch from a control room as the visitors tour the facility and give their views on the horrific treatment of disabled residents. The hosts wanted to test whether the British public could be persuaded "to believe that disabled people are disposable, or less deserving of a place in society".
The documentary explores society's attitudes towards disabled communities. Those who missed the film can watch it on Channel 4's on-demand service.
Viewer reactions
Viewers who caught it live are calling it "essential viewing". One person wrote on X: "#TheExperiment on channel 4 ... very insightful to watch." Another said: "This was really hard to watch but really good #theExperiment," while a third shared: "Just watched #TheExperiment on Channel 4. Absolutely mind blowing. So upsetting."
A fourth viewer praised: "Interesting experiment to carry out. Perceptions of disabled people are so negative and need to be challenged. Unconscious bias and disability awareness training should be in schools #TheExperiment." However, some admitted they couldn't stomach it. One said: "Could only watch for 20 minutes. It was so uncomfortable. Being born disabled I've had to deal with so much stuff like this."
Statement from hosts
Ahead of the show's release, Sophie and Mat shared a joint statement explaining the importance of their project. It reads: "It was important for us to finally bring the catastrophic history of Aktion T4 and the Nazis' persecution of disabled people to our television screens. But more importantly we wanted to test whether the British public could be persuaded by similar propaganda today, to believe that disabled people are disposable, or less deserving of a place in society."
They continued: "These are extremely disturbing times for our community, with disability rights under threat in the UK and around the world. It is reminiscent of a time many of us would rather forget, but this programme shows that the chances of repeating the past are far higher than we think. Peering behind the veil of the public perception of disability isn't for the faint-hearted, but this is essential viewing."
The Experiment is available to stream on Channel 4.
