It is probably a reflection of the current mood of the country, looking for a brighter future, that has led to the recent proliferation of everyday nudity on our televisions. On Channel 4, “Naked, Alone and Racing To Get Home” presents a physical, survival challenge where teams without food or clothing compete to race across the countryside, while “Naked Education” considers health and body image issues that we all face.
“Naked, Alone and Racing To Get Home” presents physical endurance in an entertainment format while carrying some serious underlying messages about teamwork and mental strength. One question we are receiving quite commonly at British Naturism is from people asking whether they are allowed to be naked in the countryside in the UK. Some of the allusions in the show to the risk of being arrested suggests not, but the show is entertainment, and implying risk makes better programming. “Naked, with a production team and waiting around to complete a mic check” would not have sold nearly as well! The existence of the series shows nudity to be lawful as I’m sure it is self-evident that Channel 4 would not have offered cash incentives for people to break the law and then broadcast it, any more than they would sit and film somebody die of hypothermia as a result of the channel’s actions.
The reality is that we have the freedom to be naked as long as we are not adversely affecting others. We all have a body so criminalising humanity would make no sense at all. There is a common misconception that we must be dressed outdoors, but British Naturism’s work with the College of Policing among other bodies makes it clear that we don’t, as long as we are not trying to cause upset. The show reveals that, despite the sensationalist voice overs and nerves of the contestants, the participants’ encounters with the public were entirely positive, and that the worries are mostly in our own minds. It is even more encouraging to hear how the contestants talk about the freedom of being naked in the wilderness. Even though the challenge is more extreme that recreational walking due to the lack of food, the teams still feel the elation of reconnecting with nature.
Their experience is very similar to that of the many naked hiking groups in the UK. When the weather is not too cool, you will find naked hikes most weekends and throughout the week across the UK. Some organised walks are listed in our events calendar, many more are planned and discussed in the walking section of our members’ forum.