The Human Face

Tuesdays, May 6-27 at 8 p.m.

In The Human Face, actor and comedian John Cleese sets out on an odyssey to discover the mysteries of communication, identity, perception and sexuality hidden behind the mask of the human face. Looking at the practical effects of beauty, the nature of fame and the face's ability to give away emotion, this series combines technology and human-interest stories to uncover some surprising secrets. Cleese is joined in this quest by a number of well known faces — actors Elizabeth Hurley, Pierce Brosnan, Candice Bergen and Michael Palin. The Human Face, a four-part series, airs Tuesdays, May 6-27 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV 21 (cable 11).

Part One: Here’s Looking at You airs Tuesday, May 6 at 8 p.m.
The series opens with an epic journey to uncover the secrets of the human face. In a world of six billion other faces, your face is unique. It reveals your personality, your genetic and cultural identity and it can be read like a book. Family resemblances, facial recognition and the purpose of the face and its features are all part of a story that begins in the oceans five hundred million years ago. We conclude with the multi-racial face of the future and the pioneering work of surgeons in Kentucky who are preparing for the world’s first facial transplant.

Part Two: Fame and Infamy airs Tuesday, May 13 at 8 p.m.
Famous faces are everywhere. They stare out at us from billboards, magazines, and movie screens, beaming out messages. These faces sell sex, politics, glamour and power. Diana, Jackie O, Marilyn Monroe, their faces are sometimes more familiar to us than those of our nearest and dearest. Fame and infamy tells the story of the face as icon, from Egyptian mummies to Hollywood stars.

Part Three: Survival of the Prettiest airs Tuesday, May 20 at 8 p.m.
What is beauty? Is it just a matter of personal taste? Apparently not; we discover that the same things attract lovers all round the world. A pretty face is a fertile face and ugliness suggests poor health. Big eyes, smooth skin and symmetrical features will win you fans everywhere. They’re also the ticket to a better job, more money, and better sex!

Part Four: Secrets and Lies airs Tuesday, May 27 at 8 p.m.
Every face contains a million secrets. And whether we like it or not, the face reveals our feelings and what’s really going on deep down inside. Secrets and Lies is about how the face communicates without saying a word; it’s about expressions, disguise and the mysterious art of face-reading.

For more information, visit www.bbcworldwidetv.com.

Pictured: John Cleese as Botticelli, with his apprentice, Elizabeth Hurley as Miss Fettucini, attempting to measure ideal beauty.
Photo Credit: Brian Ritchie © BBC 2001