Why the host of the "Health" program on Soviet TV interrupted her career: Yulia Belyanchikova

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

In the Soviet Union, Yulia Belyanchikova was known and loved. She was called the chief physician of the country, she was consulted and considered almost a member of the family. The recommendations of the "television doctor" were brought to life, and the advice and recipes that Yulia Belyanchikova shared in the program were even recorded. When she stopped appearing on the screens for some time, the audience immediately began to write and call the editorial office, worrying about the fate of the presenter.

From the Research Institute of Hematology to the TV studio

Julia Belyanchikova was born in one of the Moscow maternity hospitals in July 1940. The girl's mother was a doctor, but Julia herself dreamed not of medicine at all. After leaving school, she planned to teach mathematics, and therefore was going to enter the pedagogical institute. But by the time she received the Certificate of Maturity, Yulia Belyanchikova had already firmly decided to follow in her mother's footsteps.

Even during the war, Julia saw how many people her mother helped. And after she herself had to test herself in the medical field. Already in Moscow, when my mother fell ill, the ninth-grader did everything to put the dearest person on her feet. Neighbors began to turn to young Julia for advice, and she sincerely tried to help everyone.

After graduating from the First Medical Institute, Yulia Belyanchikova got a job at the Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, where she began to study in graduate school. At one of the specialized congresses, the young graduate student was noticed by members of the film crew of the "Health" program, which just at that time was left without a leader. Yulia Belyanchikova was offered to come to the audition, but she categorically refused.

In the brand new Ostankino television center, she was allegedly called on an excursion. She could not reject the offer to see Moscow from the height of the TV tower. And already in "Ostankino" she was asked to share her impressions of the work of the congress on camera. Yulia Vasilievna was able to overcome her excitement and say a few words, but she did not even realize that the recording would not go on the air, and her main goal was to see how it would look in the frame.

When she was again invited to become the presenter and even, despite all the excuses of the young doctor, they appointed the day of recording, she simply did not come to the studio, sincerely hoping that now she would be left alone. But the TV people literally laid siege to her on all fronts: they called home and work, appealed to the conscience of the Komsomol member and the doctor, reproaching her for unwillingness to help millions of people.

As a result, Yulia Belyanchikova surrendered. The first broadcast of "Health" with her participation was released in February 1969, and after that she conducted the program for more than 20 years. For some time, Yulia Vasilievna still combined television with work at research institutes and postgraduate studies, and still wanted to stay in practical medicine. But the Minister of Health himself, in response to Belyanchikova's doubts, noted that she would bring much more benefit on television. It is watched by millions of people who need professional advice from a trusted doctor. And Yulia Belyanchikova was trusted, they listened to her advice. And Yulia Vasilievna chose television.

Hundreds of letters began to come to the program every day, at the initiative of the presenter, a special department was created, where several consultant doctors were hired. Their duties included answering emails and maintaining feedback from viewers.

Until 1981, Yulia Vasilievna worked without vacation and days off. As a result, her health was badly shaken, the TV presenter had to undergo a serious operation and spend some time on sick leave. The viewers immediately sounded the alarm and breathed a sigh of relief only after she appeared on the air again.

Attack

In the late 1980s, Yulia Vasilievna briefly headed the editorial board of the magazine "Health", but then returned to television, becoming a collaborator with one of the Moscow channels. And in 1994, unknown people broke into her apartment. As a result of the attack, Yulia Vasilievna received a skull fracture in three places.

The strangest thing is that nothing was stolen from the apartment, but the attackers turned everything over. Yulia Belyanchikova was discovered by her son, who had returned from work. For several days, doctors fought for the life of the famous presenter, and after Yulia Vasilyevna had to recover for a long time, since after the injury she completely lost her memory. Only a few months later, she was able to return to work, hosted the "Medical Review" program, then a few more programs.

But the misfortunes of Yulia Belyanchikova did not end there. First, the host's father died, and then she had a serious accident, almost dying. Despite everything, she continued to work in television, then radio.

In the spring of 2010, Yulia Vasilievna began to complain of her heart, and a year later she fell very unsuccessfully, breaking her hip. Not wanting to be bedridden, the host insisted on the operation, hoping to get back to work. But, unfortunately, she died a month later. They buried the "chief physician of the country" at the Babushkinskoye cemetery in the capital.

Several generations of viewers remembered the colleague of Yulia Belyanchikova Yuri Nikolaev, the host of the programs "Morning Mail", "Blue Light", "Song of the Year", "Morning Star", "Good night, kids!" When he was at the peak of popularity, his television career was under threat - Nikolayev suffered from alcohol addiction and almost disrupted live broadcast in a state of strong intoxication. But when he found the strength to overcome bad habits, a new misfortune happened …