UPCOMING EPISODES

Amy Winehouse was one of the most gifted singer songwriters of her generation. Her multi-award winning album Back to Black has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. Her soulful voice, the raw honesty of her lyrics and witty, down-to-earth personality won the hearts of millions. But at 3.30pm on July 23rd 2011, she was found dead in the bedroom of her home in Camden, North London. At the inquest, the coroner concluded she had died of alcohol poisoning. Winehouse fought a very long and public battle with addiction. But in the weeks leading up to her death, she had made huge progress - she was clean of drugs and she was trying to tackle her alcoholism. So why did Amy Winehouse suddenly drink herself to death? Using information revealed by her autopsy, testimony heard at the Inquest and eyewitness accounts, world renowned forensic pathologist Dr Michael Hunter investigates the last days of Amy Winehouse.

George Michael was one of the most brilliant performers of his generation. In a career spanning 35 years, his talent for creating enduring music led him to become one of the greatest recording artists of all time. Following global fame with the pop group Wham!, his solo career sent him into the stratosphere and for a time, it seemed, he was unstoppable. But the death of both his lover and mother, along with the pressures of hiding his homosexuality, resulted in severe depression. Away from public view, this gifted star hid a tortured soul. He would sit at home with the curtains closed, ingesting all kinds of chemicals and alcohol – numbing himself to the pain that never went away. A string of lurid headlines documented a slide into self-destruction, which only ended with his untimely death, at the age of 53. It was attributed to natural causes, but rumour and suspicion that other forces were at play persist. Dr. Michael Hunter investigates what was going on in the singer’s body that caused him to die so suddenly, at such a young age.

Michael Jackson was the most successful entertainer of all time, winning 13 Grammy’s and selling over 750 million records worldwide. But his ascent to the top was mired by controversy. From tales of drug addiction and botched plastic surgery to lured accusations of child abuse. And on June 25th 2009 the enigmatic pop icon was found dead in his Los Angeles home, he was just 50 years of age. Michael’s physician, Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter but it’s a conviction he fiercely denies. Now, esteemed forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter is re-examining all the evidence to find out exactly what happened that led to the untimely death of the king of pop.

Janis Joplin was a true rock and roll icon and her explosive performances electrified audiences around the world. She fully embraced the rock and roll spirit of the age and had a music career that was going stratospheric. But on October 4th 1970, aged just 27 years old, Janis Joplin died alone in her Los Angeles hotel. Her body lay undiscovered for 18 hours. Forensic pathologist, Dr Michael Hunter is using Janis Joplin’s autopsy report to build up a picture of her last days and hours to find out exactly how this young, talented musician suddenly died.

Jimi Hendrix was one of the highest paid musicians in the world. At the age of 27 he had made 3 multi-million albums and had set the gold standard in rock music electric guitar. But he died in London on the September 18, 1970. The coroner concluded that he died after breathing in his own vomit. But, stating insufficient evidence of the circumstances surrounding his death, he returned an open verdict. Nearly half a century later, his death is still shrouded in mystery. Numerous conflicting accounts of his final hours have obscured the truth and fueled conspiracy theories about drugs overdose, suicide and murder. Now Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Hunter re-examines Hendrix’s death to cut through claim and counter claims and, using the medical evidence, determines precisely how he died.

Florence Ballard was the founding member, and original leader, of the Supremes - the most successful female group in history. With enduring classics such as Stop! In the name of Love, they had 10 number one hits in just 3 years. But for Flo, the fame and the pressures of the business were just too much to cope with. She turned to alcohol, and was kicked out of the band she founded at the age of just 23. Within a few years she was a single mother of three living on welfare, and by the age of 32 she was dead. Expert pathologist Dr Michael Hunter uncovers the truth behind her tragic early death.

Natalie Cole was a unique singing legend. The daughter of crooning icon Nat ‘King’ Cole became a huge success in her own right, winning nine Grammies in the process. After falling deep into drug addiction and overdosing on several occasions, she turned her life around in the 1980s and found renewed success. But Dr. Michael Hunter discovers that in 2008 her dark past catches up with her and sets off an extraordinary chain reaction of medical conditions. Through all her health battles, Natalie bravely continues to perform all over the world and has an extensive tour lined up for 2016. But on New Year’s Eve, 2015, after yet another hammer blow, her multitude of illnesses finally prove too much for her body.

In September 1991 the legendary Jazz trumpet player Miles Davis died suddenly after going in to hospital for what he described as a ‘routine tune up’. He was just 65 years old. Rumors of addiction and ill health plagued him throughout life, but the exact cause of his death has remained obscure. Now, expert Coroner and Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Michael Hunter is re-examining his medical history in order to finally reveal the true cause of Miles Davis’ death.

On the afternoon of April 1, 1984, the day before his 45th birthday, Marvin Gaye was shot by his father. Now renowned forensic pathologist Dr Michael Hunter is reopening this bizarre case to discover what was happening both psychologically and physiologically to the bodies of Marvin Gay senior and Marvin Gaye junior at the time of the shooting that may explain the reason behind this tragic case of filicide.

On July 4th 2003 ‘The Guru Of Love’ singer/songwriter and producer Barry White died of a cardiac arrest at just 58 years of age. A self-taught pianist who couldn’t read music, he rose from the tough streets of Los Angeles to become a 100-million-album-selling superstar whose deep-voiced soul music became the seduction theme of the 1970’s. Not only was the star dedicated to his music, he was also a doting father to his eight children, but for much of his life he was plagued with ill health. In this episode leading forensic pathologist, Dr Michael Hunter, investigates the star’s medical history to try get to the bottom of what caused his untimely death.

Luther Vandross was one of the brightest stars in the music business in the 80 and 90’s, notching up a raft of hit albums, including his “party starter” single , “Never Too Much” and his album “Dance With My Father” which went straight to No1 in the charts. Luther’s career faltered in the 90’s but in the early 2000’s he was making a successful comeback when disaster struck – he was the victim of a massive stroke in April 2003, which left him in a coma for nearly 2 months. Luther survived and seemed to be coping with his condition at a rehabilitation centre – but less than 2 years later his life was cut tragically short when he collapsed and died following what medical reports described as a cardiac arrhythmia – a catastrophic disruption to his heartbeat. Forensic Pathologist Dr Michael investigates what really killed Luther Vandross, uncovering through his medical investigation the story of a man tormented by an addiction to one of life’s basic necessities – food. Luther’s extreme weight gain, tipping the scale at 340 pounds with a BMI in the 40, made him morbidly obese – a condition that will lead to heart problems, but Dr Hunter discovers that a hereditary disease, poor lifestyle choices and a disastrous decision on drug taking, combined with Luther’s obsessive desire to take control of his career, may have played a part in his death.

On August 6th 2004, the music world was stunned when outrageous entertainer and colourful funk star Rick James was found dead by his housekeeper in his LA home. He was 56 years old. Adored by women, Rick James was an 80s Motown sensation and lived the classic drug-fuelled rock-n-roll lifestyle. However, his excesses took a dark turn when in 1991, he was accused of kidnap and torture, resulting in a prison sentence. Upon release, he turned his life around but something went terribly wrong and things took a turn for the worse. Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter is investigating Rick James’ death and will look into his autopsy report, witness statements and first-hand accounts to reveal why this accomplished, charismatic and popular star died suddenly, alone at home.