Emmanuel Sonubi presents Radio 4 documentary about organ donation
Emmanuel Sonubi is to present a Radio 4 documentary about the racial inequality of organ donation and transplantation.
In Dying For A Transplant, the comedian and presenter hears from experts and healthcare professionals about how people from ethnic minority backgrounds make up around 18% of the country's population but represent over a third of people on the transplant waiting list, which means that if you're any race other than white you will have a longer wait for a viable organ and are more likely to die in the process.
The Live At The Apollo star suffered heart failure during a gig in 2019 and very nearly joined the ranks of comedians who have literally died on stage. He was later told by doctors that he had a heart condition called Dilated Cardiomyopathy and that he could need a heart transplant at any point in the future.
In the programme, which is due to air on Wednesday 17th July, Sonubi speaks to Goodness Gracious Me star Nina Wadia, who has a family history of organ transplantation, about why she thinks it's so important that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are aware of the issue and what they can do to help.
He also hears from Sarah Olney MP, who chairs an All Party Parliamentary Group focused on understanding the reasons for the lack of donors, about their aims to turn the issue around.
Sonubi says: "This is a really important issue that needs to be spoken about more and I've been very fortunate to have such a great team at [production company] Made In Manchester behind me to help get this message out there.
Producer Kurt Brookes says: "It was great working with Emmanuel again and although the subject matter is hard-hitting, life and death stuff, we've made a programme that doesn't lecture the listener."
Dying For A Transplant will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 3:30pm on Wednesday 17th July and will be available on BBC Sounds after transmission.