They uncover a poverty-stricken child with a rare condition, crudely liken them to an animal in the programme title and then discover a pioneering treatment that can cure or drastically improve their condition.

The Boy They Called Fish had two out of three of these elements but sadly there was no real light at the end of the tunnel for Vietnamese orphan Minh Anh, and the documentary was all the more depressing for it.

With scaly, peeling skin that covers his entire body coupled with mental health problems the 18-year-old’s situation was incredibly bleak, with only cool conditions and water helping to stop him overheating.

Remarkably the one highlight to his ward-based existence are visits from Essex godmother Brenda, a truly inspirational woman doing whatever she can to help Minh Anh at the age of 78.

There were moments of bittersweet happiness here as her visits brought a rare smile to the teenager’s face

prospect of her soon no longer being able to visit him and word from doctors that his skin condition is virtually untreatable rendered this documentary compelling but utterly devoid of hope.