After qualifying as a doctor in 2000, Doctor Christian Jessen shot to fame in the early noughties, appearing on a slew of health-related documentary programmes.
From Supersize vs Superskinny to Embarrassing Bodies, as well as going incognito for controversial Channel 4 documentaries such as Undercover Doctor: Cure Me I'm Gay, it seemed the British doctor was on our screens most evenings.
But after his years of dominating UK TV, in 2022, after accumulating a rather impressive media empire from multiple book deals to spin-off shows after years on our screens, Christian took a noticeable step back from the spotlight when it was revealed he wouldn't be returning for the latest series of Embarrassing Bodies, a show he joined in 2007.
© Getty ImagesSo, where is Doctor Christian now? And why did he leave the bright lights of showbiz so abruptly?
Where is Doctor Christian Jessen now?
After years under the glittering lights of the world of television, Doctor Christan now operates away from the public eye at a clinic in Harley Street, where he offers private appointments, specialising in second opinions.
His official website states: "I am able to offer online appointments either by phone or video (Skype, FaceTime etc) to advise and guide you with your medical queries and problems. I can also offer you a 'second opinion' service where I can review your medical notes, results and correspondence and give you advice and guidance on how to best proceed with any chronic or 'mystery' illnesses that you have been struggling to get answers to your questions."
Legal dispute
In 2021, Doctor Christian reportedly faced bankruptcy after he was ordered to pay Arlene Foster £125,000 in libel after tweeting false allegations that the former First Minister was having an extramarital affair.
At the time, Jessen had made the unfounded claim that Foster, who had been married for 25 years, was having an adulterous relationship with a close protection officer.
© Getty ImagesThe tweet, shared on the social media platform now known as X, was deleted but had been shared and liked 3,500 times and retweeted over 500 times.
Belfast's High Court was told Arlene had been cut "to the core" by the attack. Mr Justice McAlinden said the large payout was to ensure that Arlene was completely vindicated following the unfounded rumours.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Doctor Christian said he "deeply regretted" his words and asked followers to donate to his GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of his legal fees.
Endorsement issues
But that wasn't the only time the TV doctor came under fire. In 2019, an online pharmacy that was endorsed by Dr Christian was banned from selling powerful opioids after it was found to be breaching standards.
After an investigation initiated by a report in the Times, the company UK Meds was found to be prescribing highly addictive medication without consulting the customers' GPs first, the report found.
The scandal escalated when BBC's Panorama found the company was avoiding regulation by hiring doctors through a sister company, EU General Practitioners in Romania. As a result, the General Pharmaceutical Council found several breaches of standards at UK Meds.
According to the Mirror, following the discoveries, a spokesperson stated on behalf of Doctor Christian, saying that at the time he was used by the company to present short information videos and didn't endorse specific products.
Covid controversies
The pandemic also brought about drama for Doctor Christian, who was met with backlash after commenting that Italians were using the disease as an excuse to have a "long siesta."
While live on air, on FUBAR Radio's Access All Areas in March 2020, he said: "This might be a little bit racist to say this, [and] you'll have to make apologies, but do you not think it's a bit of an excuse?
"The Italians, any old excuse to, you know, shut down everything and stop work for a bit and have a long siesta." He added, "I think it's an epidemic lived out more in the press than in reality." I mean if you think about flu right, without getting too heavy, flu kills thousands every single year."
Italian footballer Ciro Immobile called Christian an expletive and told him to "[expletive] off" after hearing his comments.
