CONFESSIONS OF A BRAIN SURGEON

A Horizon special for BBC Two and iPlayer in which world-renowned brain surgeon Henry Marsh talks candidly about some of his most difficult cases.

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Monday 18th August 2025

Henry Marsh was one of Britain’s top brain surgeons, operating on thousands of patients over a 40-year career. After retiring, Henry received his own life-threatening diagnosis – advanced prostate cancer. This shift from doctor to patient has given Henry a new perspective on life and death and his ground-breaking career. Now, as he awaits his own medical results, Henry is facing his past, to learn lessons that he can pass on to the next generation of surgeons. As he is grapples with the cases of patients who died in his care, a chance encounter leads to a meeting with a family who have blamed Henry for the death of their son for almost three decades. He also explores the impact his work had on those closest to him, revealing the huge emotional and personal challenges of a job where every day came with life and death decisions. Having pioneered a controversial technique to remove tumours from patients’ brains whilst they were still awake, Henry admits how easy it was to become arrogant as a brain surgeon. Looking back, he can see there were times when he thought he was a surgical ‘superhero’ but now stresses the importance of recognising and sharing your own mistakes. Featuring unseen personal archive from throughout Henry’s life and career, this film also sees Henry travelling the world to talk to the upcoming doctors, who he hopes to help by being honest about his own experiences.

With Thanks to GEOFFREY SMITH

Music by PATRICK CANNELL

Director of Photography PATRICK SMITH

Assistant Camera JOSH SPEAR

Additional Filming WILL SHEARS

UGC Filming DRANDRIJ MYZAK & DR PROTYUSH SHRESTHA

Post-Production Facility SPLICE

Post-Production Executive LYDIA THATCHER

Colourist CONNOR O’NEILL

Online Editor SOL COKER

Dubbing Mixer JAMES WHITTLESEA

Production Accountant IWONA GONCALVES

Production Legal Services ABBAS MEDIA LAW

Consultant Clinical Psychologist DR.HOWARD FINE

Development KATHERINE ANSTEY

Researcher JOEL STOLZ-HUNTER

Archive Producer JOHN GREATHEAD

Production Co-ordinators ABI MAKIN & PHOEBE THOMAS

Junior Production Manager LOUELLA PEARCEWHITE

Production Manager YASMIN HEIDARY-MILIC

Head of Production NICKY VARLEY

Commissioning Editor for the BBC TOM COVENEY

Executive Producers DOV FREEDMAN & CHARLIE RUSSELL

Producer FREDDIE LANGE HEWLETT

Editor WILLIAM GRAYBURN

Filmed & Directed by HARRIET BIRD & CHARLIE RUSSELL