Secrets Of Living Dolls

It's official people, I can no longer be shocked speechless. I seriously thought I had watched every show about secret hobbies and fetishes, from dressing as an adult baby to pretending to be disabled but this one was just beyond anything I could have ever anticipated. When Cliff Richard wrote that wonderfully cheery, if not slightly disturbing tune about his walking, talking, living doll I don't think it ever crossed his mind that people would turn it into something literal - never underestimate human capabilities Cliff.

So what is Secrets Of Living Dolls all about I hear you ask? Well it basically is an in depth look at the secretive world of female masking, a practice where men transform into women with the  help of female rubber suits that look scarily real and masks which are less convincing but I suppose are that way because it's all part of the fake, dolly pretense. We meet several different 'maskers' including 70 year old Robert who lives in Orange County and who's masking costs him a fortune. His alter-ego is called Sherry, a blonde stunner who Robert has made his own by adding personal aspects to her 'skin' including his own hair to serve as pubic hair around her rubber vagina - realistic. He takes us through a traditional process of  'dollification' which includes talcing up the suit so he doesn't stick. I suppose one of the first things that struck me about all of this is that when they are fully dolled up, nothing really much changes in their life, they just sort of hang about and lounge in the sun which is dangerous because Sherry might melt and futile because the suit is made of rubber... I was actually expecting more abnormal stuff to happen after they put on the suit. Oh, but he does get a little pervy over taking pictures of him in the suit which is slightly off putting.

The creator of Fem Skin, the company that produces the suits, was originally a cabinet maker but apparently that didn't really have the demand so he switched to making the suits and masks. How? How did this happen? The programme fails to address this question really which is annoying. I wonder if he was also a masker? The company is family-run with mum Barbie the driving force and her sons chipping in to help design and produce the products. I have to admit, there's some craftsmanship that goes into these suits so it's unsurprising that they cost hundreds of dollars. Now before everyone puts on their 'this stuff only happens in America' face, it actually turns out that other countries including German mainly with the UK following along behind like some left out puppy, are becoming big consumers of these products.

Another masker we meet is Joel who to some people's surprise, and admittedly my own, has a girlfriend - I say this because I think we as a society and a nation stereotypically believe that anyone who engages in practices that are seen as abnormal must be a total freak all of the time but with Joel this just isn't the case. He also helpfully sheds some light on the reasons behind his hobby such as escapism and a sense of enjoyment. Ok, right yes I'm not saying that this is the mainstream and that we all must embrace female masking with open arms, I'm just saying it's a thing and these people who practice it just want to do so with out prejudice - do I think they will achieve this? Probably not in all ways because it is so taboo but maybe overtime female masking will have the same kind of movement towards acceptance as being a transvestite has in recent years.....?

Now, I have some problems with the actual suits. Firstly, they don't all fit great and I'm just saying that if I paid hundreds of pounds for something that was ill-fitting I would be pissed off. For instance, some of the masks are very lose which its not good and the wigs don't really do anybody justice because they all look so cheep, like something you wear for Halloween. Secondly, some of the people went for drives in the programme with these masks on which looked incredibly funny but was also like super dangerous! Bearing mind these masks only have like small eye holes surely it's not safe to be driving with them on....? Thirdly, if you are going to spend all that money on these state of the art suits then you surely can splash out a little on clothes because seriously all, and I mean, all of the clothes these men were wearing were not good. One was actually wearing a bin liner for a skirt - no joke people. I suppose you have to remember that you can pretend to be a woman all you want but if you have even a shadow of doubt about fashion then look at some magazines, don't bloody go out with terrible clothes on because it's not helping the cause. Finally, I would not be able to breathe, I would faint in those masks because the smell of rubber would make me sick.

I admire the frankly brave individuals who took part in this documentary and I wish them every success. Do I feel like I could accept the world of female masking? Probably in time, but you can't force acceptance on people and it's different in real life than on the telly. All I know is that it was a very entertaining and informative hour of telly.

8/10