Chris van Tulleken

Dr. Chris van Tulleken is an infectious diseases doctor at UCLH, and one of the BBC’s leading science presenters having worked on many flagship Health & Science programmes.

Dr Chris van Tulleken is an infectious diseases doctor at University College Hospital and one of the BBC’s leading science presenters, known for bringing complex health and science topics to life in an engaging and accessible way.

Alongside his twin brother, Dr Xand, Chris has fronted a string of acclaimed TV series. In Twinsitute for BBC Two, they put competing health theories to the test with the help of 30 other pairs of identical twins, while Planet Child for ITV offered a landmark exploration of childhood development around the world. Their award-winning children’s series Operation Ouch! has become a global hit, inspiring young viewers through curious and creative experiments that explain how the human body works.

Chris’s passion for improving public health has led to powerful investigative work. The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs for BBC One examined the UK’s reliance on prescription medication, sparking a national conversation, while The Truth About...HIV featured the support of HRH Prince Harry and Sir Elton John in raising awareness about the virus.

Never afraid to make himself the subject of an experiment, Chris has tested health and survival theories first-hand, from extreme environments to unusual diets, in series such as Operation Iceberg and Medicine Men Go Wild. His work as a doctor has taken him to some of the world’s most challenging environments, and he has trained the British Army in survival techniques.

An accomplished author, Chris has co-written Secrets of the Human Body and Operation Ouch! The HuManual, sharing his expertise with audiences of all ages. In 2016, he was awarded the Max Perutz Prize by the Royal Institution for his HIV research.

Chris studied medicine at Oxford University, specialising in infectious diseases and tropical medicine, and continues to combine frontline medical work with broadcasting and writing — inspiring audiences with his energy, curiosity, and commitment to making science accessible to all.