The documentary strand exploring remarkable tales of human experience continues. This edition features a group of Indonesian circus performers whose shocking medical conditions made them the star attraction in a travelling freak show.

With the show now disbanded, the performers have returned to their respective villages where they face the prospect of finding work outside the circus. 'Extraordinary People' follows a British surgeon as he travels to Indonesia to see if he can help the people combat their conditions.

In Indonesia, a close-knit group of circus performers known as 'the Clan' has long been the main attraction at a travelling freak show. Esih, Sahi, Sakim and Mamat all have extreme physical conditions that have never been diagnosed, but the performers have managed to earn a living thanks to the morbid fascination of the public.

However, the circus has now gone out of business and the four performers have been forced to leave life on the road and return to their villages. Sahi is trying his luck at woodcutting, but says the work irritates his skin, which is covered in bubble-like tumours.

Having heard news of the Clan's plight, British craniomaxillofacial surgeon David Koppel is keen to help. So far, all he has seen of the Clan is a video of their act. Mr Koppel hopes that by flying to Indonesia, he might offer the group members diagnoses, and provide them with treatment that could turn their lives around.

The truth is that sideshows have given way to TV and computer screens; we feed our appetite for the outlandish in cyberspace, not at the fairground.

Extraordinary people: World's oldest conjoined twins, Five

Straddling these eras was the gently touching tale of Donnie and Ronnie Galyon, aged 57, truly Extraordinary People: The World's Oldest Conjoined Twins (Five). The senses have been numbed by a plethora of The Man With A Tree For A Head type shows but Kerry Brierley told the Galyons' story with rare sensitivity.

Donnie and Ronnie have spent their entire lives facing each other, joined at the base of the sternum down to the pelvis. They spent three decades as a sideshow attraction, the best way their father could find to support his family of nine. But, refreshingly, they had nothing but fond memories of the experience: it made them feel special.

There was a slightly spurious 'trip of a lifetime' drama sub-plot as the brothers achieved their ambition to see the Dallas Cowboys.

This edition follows the story of Rudy Santos, a Filipino man who was born with three extra limbs attached to his abdomen. At the age of 55, Rudy is beginning to suffer poor health as a result of the additional weight. Could his rare condition be killing him?

Once a star of mythical proportions, 55-year-old 'Octopus Man' Rudy Santos could command up to 20,000 pesos per night as the main attraction at a travelling freak show. Owing to comparisons with the god Shiva, Rudy became a national celebrity, with women lining up to be with him. Then, he disappeared. In hiding from tax officials, Rudy has not been seen for nearly a decade. But with his health in crisis, it could finally be time for Rudy to explore his mysterious condition.

On Tuesday Channel 4 had a Bodyshock special called The Girl With Eight Limbs. The very next evening, on Five, there was Extraordinary People: The Boys Joined At The Head. I make that 16 limbs, three heads (little Lakshmi's parasitic twin didn't have one) on two channels over two nights. Four and Five are like two angry octopuses, locked in battle, each trying to out-freak the other. And freak us out.

At least Four, in calling its strand Bodyshock, is pretty much admitting it's a freak show. Weirdly, I find it hard to get that tune out of my head - "Wooooaaaaah Bodyshock, Bodyshock for meeee" (as an eight-limbed girl skates past, wearing lycra and however many pairs of roller skates it takes).

In this one, Mohammed and Ahmed Ibrahim aren't skating anywhere, or even walking. They're joined top-of-the-head-to-top-of-the-head, so they can't even see each other.

A surgeon in Texas is prepared to give separation a go, even though the chances of both surviving are tiny. So the boys, who are from Egypt, fly out on one passport, hoping to come home on two. And the long division begins

Extraordinary People

The documentary strand exploring remarkable tales of human experience continues. Five-yearold Juliana Wetmore has the most severe case of Treacher Collins syndrome ever seen. Juliana was born with over half of her cranial bones missing and has undergone 27 operations as doctors endeavour to build her a functional face. This film follows Juliana as she prepares for yet another major operation and begins her education.

Juliana Wetmore is a most extraordinary child. The five-year-old suffers from an extreme condition called Treacher Collins syndrome. Born with a severely deformed face, Juliana has undergone round after round of risky surgery in a bid to rebuild her features and give her the hope of a better life.

In the beginning, mother Tami Wetmore had a seemingly normal second pregnancy. But scans soon made it clear that there were major complications. Doctors were unable to give a clear diagnosis and suggested terminating the pregnancy - but this was never an option for Tami or her husband, Thom. It was this sort of devotion to their child that would sustain the family over the next few years.

Juliana was born in March 2003 and the birth almost killed her mother. The prognosis for the baby was not good. Treacher Collins syndrome occurs in one in 50,000 births. It affects the face and head, and Juliana's case is the most severe ever recorded.

The little girl was born with nearly 60 per cent of the bones in her face missing and a number of severe abnormalities. These included a sealed eyelid, no cheek bones, no nasal passage and almost no upper and lower jaw bone. Although Juliana's hearing is restricted, she has good vision in her right eye and a normal-functioning brain.

The first 18 months of Juliana's life were perhaps the most difficult for her family. Juliana suffered numerous respiratory infections and endured complications after surgery. In her short lifetime, she has undergone some 27 operations as doctors attempt to rebuild her face.

Dr Wolfe, who has operated on Juliana since the beginning, is now ready to undertake another series of operations designed to help Juliana live a fuller life. Tami and Thom's chief priority is the health of their child. They want her to eat and breathe freely, but they also want her to engage in the same activities as any normal five-year-old.

This documentary follows the next stage in Juliana's surgical reconstructions, as well as tracing her academic and social progress. Cognitively, she is as bright and capable as any other five-year-old, but the routine of major invasive surgery is an obstacle she must continually overcome. Now, as a milestone operation approaches, Juliana faces another watershed moment - she is about to begin mainstream education. Can the combination of surgery and Juliana's own innate confidence help her take a massive step towards a normal life?