Pamela Edwards, 32, is one of the few people in Britain known to suffer from dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

St Helens council, the local authority in Merseyside responsible for her care, and the official solicitor, a government legal officer, sought a High Court injunction preventing the publication of any details of her life.

Being Pamela gave a unique insight into Pamela’s rare disorder. She spends much of her time lost among the four characters who inhabit her mind. She is always surrounded by two or three carers who say ‘Pamela? Where’s Pamela?’ – calling to her, although she is standing in front of them.

They do not know which of her characters – Sandra, Andrew, Susan or Margaret - is present. Unlike with other DID sufferers, the personalities are aware of each other’s existence and often interact.

The documentary was broadcast on Channel 4 at 9pm on 8 June 2005.