Comedian Mo Gilligan has undertaken a 28-day experiment consuming only fried chicken to explore the fast-food industry’s health and ethical implications in a new documentary titled *Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy*. The project, which begins in South London and travels to the United States—the origin of modern fried chicken—examines the widespread popularity and impact of the dish, which has become a £12 million-a-day industry in the UK.

Over the course of the documentary, Gilligan visits chicken factory farms, uncovering footage that reveals the poor conditions in which many chickens are raised. He describes the experience as revealing “the stark reality” behind an industry typically shrouded in secrecy. “This industry is so secretive and so silent. But when you see what is behind closed doors, I understand why it is so silent now,” he states.

Health concerns are central to the documentary, echoing the 2004 film *Super Size Me* by Morgan Spurlock, where the filmmaker consumed nothing but McDonald’s meals for a month. Gilligan’s fast-food diet similarly takes a toll on his physical and mental well-being. At one point, he becomes emotional, attributing mental distress to his extreme dietary regimen. Gilligan also reflects on the unexpected ingredients found in fast food products, noting one additive’s use in condom lubrication as particularly unsettling.

The documentary highlights the scale of the UK’s fried chicken market, which now includes more than 6,000 chicken shops—nearly double the number of Tesco supermarkets and four times as many as Sainsbury’s stores. The film traces the dish’s rise in the UK since the 1960s and its integration into everyday eating habits.

While Gilligan’s experience underscores significant health and ethical concerns associated with fried chicken consumption, he stops short of renouncing the food entirely. Despite the difficult subject matter, the documentary’s impact did not deter some viewers from continuing to order fried chicken shortly after watching.