Dr. Xand van Tulleken is a doctor, broadcaster, and public health expert, known for making complex medical and scientific issues accessible to audiences across television, radio, podcasts, and books. He is an Associate Professor of Public Health at University College London and continues to be a leading voice in health communication.

Alongside his twin brother, Dr. Chris van Tulleken, Xand launched the award-winning podcast A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand in 2021. The podcast quickly reached the top of multiple charts, with the first season exploring Xand’s relationship with ultra-processed food. In the second series, released in 2022, the brothers examined whether and how people can change ingrained habits. The podcast remains a key part of their ongoing work in public health advocacy.

Since 2020, Xand has been a resident doctor on BBC One's flagship daytime show Morning Live, providing trusted medical advice to millions of viewers. He previously hosted Healthcheck UK Live, a BBC daytime show that aimed to guide the public through health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work on the pandemic was deeply personal—he and Chris explored their own experiences with the virus in the critically acclaimed BBC One documentary Surviving the Virus: My Brother & Me. He also fronted a series of Channel 4 documentaries, including Coronavirus: How to Isolate Yourself, When Will Lockdown End?, and How to Avoid a Second Wave.

Xand and Chris have continued to blend science, entertainment, and public engagement through their television work. In 2019, they hosted Twinstitute for BBC Two, testing competing health theories using pairs of identical twins.

Xand has also tackled major public health topics in solo projects. His BBC One documentary The Truth About Carbs (2018) explored the science of nutrition. He also investigated the dangers of urban pollution in the BBC One current affairs film Fighting For Air, which sparked national discussion about air quality in British cities.

Xand and Chris’s double BAFTA-winning CBBC series Operation Ouch! remains hugely popular, with the 13th season launching in 2025. The brothers have also taken the show on the road, performing Operation Ouch Live to sold-out audiences in London’s West End and Australia.

In addition to his work in medicine and broadcasting, Xand has a strong background in global health. He has reported for CNN in the US, covering major health crises such as the Ebola outbreak, and has appeared on networks including Al Jazeera, MSNBC, and the BBC World Service. 

He has also hosted historical documentaries for Channel 5/Paramount, covering topics such as The Smog, The Vikings, and The Plague, combining his medical expertise with a passion for history.

Xand and Chris grew up in London and both studied medicine at Oxford University, with Xand specialising in tropical medicine. Early in his career, he worked as a doctor in Darfur during the genocide, which ignited his interest in the politics and medicine of conflict zones. 

His work remains at the forefront of health communication, bridging the gap between science, medicine, and the public.