29 January 2024 , 09:43
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The BBC have reuploaded a recent episode of Dragons' Den to iPlayer after temporarily making the broadcast unavailable to stream.
In an episode aired on January 18, businesswoman Giselle Boxer claimed she used "diet, acupuncture, Chinese herbs and ear seeds" to recover from myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E), turning the latter into the brand Acu Seeds.
Giselle's comment sparked a huge backlash and Action for ME penned an open letter to two House of Commons select committees expressing concern that her pitch suggested her product was "responsible for her recovery and should therefore be considered an effective treatment".
The BBC removed the episode featuring Giselle from iPlayer last week, with a spokesperson for the broadcaster saying on 25th January: "We’re taking the concerns raised seriously, so we are reviewing the episode and therefore it’s currently not available on iPlayer."
Giselle Boxer received investment offers from all of the DragonsHowever, as of Monday morning [29th January], episode three of the 21st series of the long-running reality television business programme is once again available to screen on iPlayer. The edited broadcast now comes with a warning before viewers hit play on the episode, with the BBC stating: "This programme has been edited since broadcast to clarify aspects of the Acu Seeds pitch. Advice should always be sought from a qualified healthcare provider about any health concerns."
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During the episode, text appears on screen when Giselle pitches her business to Gary Neville, Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett - who all invested in her company. "Acu seeds are not intended as a cure for any medical conditions and advice should always be sought from a qualified healthcare provider about any health concerns," the text reads.
Following the original broadcast on 18th January, The Mirror revealed how the BBC had actually invited Giselle to appear on the show. The Sheffield-based businesswoman shared her story with the Dragons, explaining how she developed her product after being diagnosed with ME at 26. She said: "Four years ago I was diagnosed with ME. I went from working in a top advertising agency with a busy social life and exercising regularly to being mostly housebound, unable to walk for more than five minutes without having to get back into bed.
Continuing her pitch, Giselle added: "I was told by doctors that I would never recover, work again or have children. I went on a personal healing journey using diet, acupuncture, Chinese herbs and ear seeds. Using this combination, I believe, aided my recovery within 12 months."
Giselle's successful pitch for her Acu Seeds product, a "DIY needle-free ear acupuncture for anxiety, migraines, hormonal issues, insomnia, weight loss and more[", led to a historic moment on the show as all six Dragons made an offer. After considering their offers, she chose Steven Bartlett as her investor.
Following the episode, a letter signed by ME campaign groups was sent to Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, and Steve Brine, chair of the Health and Social Care Committee. The groups expressed their worry about the episode being aired during primetime on BBC One, as they believe it made an "unfounded claim that this form of alternative medicine can cure ME".
They added: "Sadly, there is currently no known effective treatment for ME. There has been a distinct paucity of research into this disease, compared to other long-term conditions, which means that ME is still without a cure." They also reminded people to only take medical advice from qualified healthcare professionals and ensure any treatment decisions are evidence-based. The letter urged broadcasters to make sure content is accurate and not misleading or potentially dangerous.
Taking to Instagram last week, prior to the BBC temporarily pulling her episode from iPlayer, Giselle shared a clip of her Dragons' Den pitch on her Acu Seeds Instagram page. "In case you missed the episode, here’s what went down," Giselle captioned the footage. "The last few days have been bonkers. Forever grateful for the love and support."
Steven Bartlett, the Dragon Giselle picked to be her investor, left a trio of heart emojis underneath the Acu Seeds owner's post. The businessman's comment sparked a backlash, with one Instagram user telling the Dragons' Den star: "I’ve enjoyed listening to your podcasts for a few years. I’m bed-bound with dysautonomia and severe ME most likely caused by a concealed abscess in my gallbladder now removed but the damage is done.
"Ear seeds can’t treat the underlying cause of ME most people with ME started with an infection either viral or bacterial. Clean up the marketing around this product or it will be forever known as yet another unproven product putting profit before people’s health. Run a clinical trial on ear seeds and ME if you are confident in their efficiency. I know you’ll do the right thing because you are a good person."