A point of VIEW

LIZ CARR on bringing a unique insight to a difficult debate

- TESS LAMACRAFT

BETTER OFF DEAD? NEW TUESDAY, 9PM, BBC1 FACTUAL

Few roles have stirred Liz Carr as much as her latest on-screen project. As a long-time campaigner against legalisation of assisted dying in the UK, the TV star and disability-rights activist has written and fronts a new BBC1 documentary exploring the controversial and ethically complex issue.

'I'm pro-choice, an atheist, a rights campaigner and assisted suicide scares me," says Liz, 52, who was diagnosed with rare condition arthrogryposis multiplex congenita at the age of seven. 'I want everyone to have a good death and, through this documentary, I hope to show why I’m unconvinced that any type of “assisted dying” is the answer to this.’

The one-off programme, Better Off Dead?, sees Liz talk to people from both sides of the debate, as well as travel to Canada, where medical assistance in dying has been legal since 2016.

Here, Liz, who is best known for playing forensic examiner Clarissa Mullery in BBC1 drama Silent Witness, tells us why she hopes it shows a different perspective…

Why was it important to you to make this documentary, Liz?