DOCUMENTARIES

Weight Loss Surgery: Getting Thin Abroad

Panorama: The Secret World of Trading Nudes

  • Panorama investigates the disturbing online trade in sexually explicit images and video of women, often taken and posted on social media without their consent.

  • Co-produced and Directed by Ashni Lakhani

    BBC Panorama and BBC One, 2022

  • The story was adapted into bespoke BBC News article that the led BBC News website, a BBC Breakfast TV package, BBC News at 6, National Radio Packages, a BBC podcast and Instagram and TikTok versions.

    The documentary was selected as the “Pick of the Week” by The Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, The Sun and The Mail on Sunday.

    The investigation was covered in The Star, The Mail, The Week, Daily Star, The Times, Metro , The Independent and ultimately helped change the law to better protect women against sexual image-based abuse.

  • Nominated for “Most Impactful Journalism” at the BBC News Awards 2022

    Nominated for “Best Investigation” at the Asian Media Awards 2023

Turkey Teeth: Bargain Smiles or Big Mistake?

  • The BBC explores the TikTok trend 'Turkey Teeth', in which young people are travelling to Turkey to get a brand new smile... by shaving down their natural teeth.

  • Co-Produced, Filmed and Directed by Ashni Lakhani

    BBC News and BBC iPlayer, 2022

  • The story was adapted into bespoke BBC News TV, Breakfast, radio packages and social media cut-downs. It made the BBC News at Six, was the 20th most googled topic of the day and became the BBC News article was the most popular story of 2022 for underserved audiences.

    The story sparked a national conversation was picked up by GB News, ITV, Trisha, Jeremy Vine, ITV’s This Morning, The Sun, The Mail, FeMail, OK!, Mirror, Standard, National World, Times Radio, The Times, Denistry.co.uk and the British Dental Association.

  • Nominated for “Most Impactful Journalism” at the BBC News Awards 2022

    Nominated for “Best Investigation” at the Asian Media Awards

    Top BBC Story in 2022 for reaching underserved audiences

Under The Skin: The Botched Beauty Business

  • BBC Three goes undercover to reveal the truth behind unregulated training courses in the aesthetics industry, and how they risk leading to botched patients.

    Watch the trailer here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCYeAIzlGWk

  • Filmed, Produced and Directed by Ashni Lakhani

    BBC Three, 2021

  • The story was adapted into bespoke BBC Three article, BBC Breakfast tv package, appeared on the BBC News at 6, was produced into national radio packages, a short BBC podcast and various social media versions.

    The documentary was Sky’s “Top Pick” and ‘Top Suggested” on Apple TV.

    It was picked up by The Sun, The Mail, The iNews, Daily Starr and informed reasoning for the banning of fillers for under 18’s the following year.

  • Winner of “Outstanding Original Journalism” at BBC News Awards 2021

Spending Black: The Currency of Community

  • BBC Three explores whether shopping at black-owned businesses, really can make a long-lasting difference to the lives of the black community.

  • Co-Produced and Directed by Ashni Lakhani

    BBC Three, 2021

  • The story was adapted into bespoke article for BBC Three and a podcast episode for BBC Radio 4’s MoneyBox programme.

HIV Positive and Proud

  • HIV attitudes haven’t changed since the 1980s but Generation Z is trying to change that.

    20-year-old HIV activist, Mercy Ngulube, debunks common misconceptions about HIV and tell us why she’s positive and proud.

  • Produced and Directed by Ashni Lakhani and Orchard Films

    BBC News, BBC iPlayer, 2019

  • This digital-first documentary was produced into bespoke social media packages for the BBC on Facebook and Instagram.

    The story of lead presenter in the film was picked up by The Mail, iNews and Wales Online.

Hostel from Hell: Undercover at the YMCA

  • This BBC investigation reveals claims that the YMCA North London is failing the young people that live there.

  • Produced by Ashni Lakhani

    BBC News, BBC iPlayer 2019

  • The story was adapted into bespoke packages which led BBC News in London that day, BBC Radio 4 packages and BBC facebook, twitter, instagram platforms.

    External coverage of the story can be found in The Canary and Harringay Online.

Skin Lightening: How I learned to love my skin

Acid Attacks: Hell in a Bottle

  • On average in 2016, there were two acid attacks a day. 2017 is now projected to be the year with the highest number of attacks ever recorded in the UK.

    This documentary follows four separate acid attack victims who highlight this growing trend.

  • Produced by Ashni Lakhani

    BBC News, BBC YouTube, 2017

  • The story was adapted into bespoke package for BBC News at 6 and BBC social media platforms including facebook, twitter, instagram.