I interrupt this broadcast to bring you...

The BBC Documentary 'Sex over 60' in which I was featured

I typically avoid TV appearances because, unlike print or radio, I feel I have no control over broadcasts. I know this may seem irrational, but for me, there’s a significant difference between being featured in a women’s weekly magazine to discuss visiting sex clubs and appearing on the BBC, where an editor's decision can transform a perfectly innocent remark into one that has serious repercussions.

Having worked in TV for several years, I'm well aware that it’s the Director's and Editor's job to create compelling television, which might require portraying a participant in a way that was never intended.

Despite my reservations, I was promised a plug for Sex Advice for Seniors. So, on a rainy weekday, I arrived at a studio in a warehouse in East London to meet three other participants discussing sex over 60. I already knew Tina (on TikTok as @tinagoesdating) from our appearances in videos for Lovehoney, where we collaborate as advocates for sex in later life. Stella Raffini and I are both members of a Facebook group, as is David, who follows Advantages of Age.

The entire day involved filming segments together and separately, which, when edited, resulted in a 22-minute program. I’m eager to hear your thoughts on it. I watched it very early this morning and found it to be much tamer than our conversations, with little that surprised me. However, I live in a world where I regularly discuss sex and relationships, so it takes a lot to pique my interest now!

I participated in a panel discussion this week related to an academic study conducted by a team at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine called SHOAR (Sexual Health in Older Adults Research). This study employed a range of community-engaged and participatory approaches to gather evidence aimed at improving sexual health services for middle-aged and older adults in the UK.

While it was enlightening to hear the findings from their research, much of the data was (again) not surprising—especially for anyone who has sought medical help for a sexual health issue (and finding a clinic can often be a challenge). Most doctors lack training in discussing sexual issues with older adults, and there persists a belief that older adults are not sexually active.

We left the discussion with a renewed commitment to advance education for both older adults who wish to engage in sexual activity and for medical professionals who need to support them in that choice.

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I know you are probably thinking, wow, this is all becoming very serious - I only turned up here for a bit of titillation and some fun conversations. Well - if you want that, you’ll enjoy a recent Substack ‘Note’ of mine that has had over 750 likes and is still doing the rounds:

Well, a girl has to have fun, right?? And here’s last week’s cover of That’s Life. See if you can spot the sun goddess. LOL

Enjoy your weekend! If you’d like to support my efforts to advocate for older adults who still want to enjoy a vibrant sex life—through attending conferences, appearing on TV, and participating in panel discussions (all unpaid) —your contribution of £4.99 a month or £49.99/year would be greatly appreciated. There are not enough voices willing to step into the spotlight and champion this important cause. Thank you for considering it!

Until next time,

Suzanne