Obesity, cosmetic surgery and sex parties: Channels 4 and 5 slug it out

Katie Piper, presenter of Channel 4’s Bodyshockers: Nips, Tucks and Tattoos. Photograph: Ray Burmiston/Channel 4

When MTV owner Viacom bought Channel 5 last year, it promised to up the stakes in its bitter rivalry with Channel 4. But it turns out that anything Channel 5 can do, Channel 4 can do better, not least in the programme stakes of a certain genre. Last week Channel 4 offered up Bodyshockers: Nips, Tucks and Tattoos, Shut-Ins: Britain’s Fattest People and Sex Party Secrets. Not to be outdone, the channel formerly owned by Richard Desmond hit back with 70 Stone Man: The Last Days, Benefits: Too Fat to Work, and Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away! Coming to Channel 4 this week: My Granny the Escort going head to head with C5’s Botched Up Bodies. This one will run and run.