Dr Chris van Tulleken to deliver 2024 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

An NHS infectious diseases specialist at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London, a UCL academic and a New York Times bestselling author, he won the Max Perutz award for his HIV research n 2016.

As a presenter his broadcast contributions include Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, Horizon, The Truth About..., Operation Iceberg, Cloud Lab, Museum of Life, and Blizzard: Race to the Pole, among others.

In the Ri lecture series, to be shown on BBC Four and iPlayer, van Tulleken will address the importance of the microbiome and strategies for eating better for personal health and the good of the planet.

Among the highlights will be an element of personal experimentation, this time featuring the presenter swallowing a camera-pill to record his own digestion process. Also, the regularly-featured guest slots will on this occasion include participation from chefs and fellow scientists producing sustainable meals on stage.

Commenting on the news, van Tulleken said: “I am honoured beyond words to be asked to be the Ri’s 2024 Christmas Lecturer. The food we eat, how it’s produced, and the process through which we derive energy from it is not only deeply fascinating scientifically, it’s also fundamental to human and planetary health.

“I’m really looking forward to revealing that fascinating science to our young audience, with the help of special expert guests and the Lectures’ trademark demonstrations developed by the Ri team. Along the way we’ll ask some challenging questions that we all need to consider, about the future of food and the health of our planet.”

The Ri Christmas Lectures line-up has boasted a raft of renowned scientific pioneers since the event’s inception in 1825 and attracts major sponsorship for the event, which has long been  directed at young audiences.

This year’s talks are supported by title partner IT and business consultancy CGI, as well as UK Research and Innovation, while the event patron is the UK National Commission for UNESCO.

And, as in recent years, the final yearly issue of Laboratory News will include an extended interview with the Ri guest lecturer, published to coincide with the broadcasts.

Director of the Royal Institution, Katherine Mathieson decribed the lectures as “a fantastic opportunity to bring the latest science to life for a young audience, with expert insight from leading scientists and researchers while

BBC Commissioning Head of Science Tom Coveney predicted van Tulleken’s talks would be “surprising and very thought-provoking”.

Established by Michael Faraday in 1825, the lectures were first delivered on the BBC in 1936 – making the series the earliest science show ever featured on UK national television. The event been broadcast every year since 1966 and, in addition to drawing millions of viewers annually, some 60,000 students also take part in Ri-related activities.

The 2024 Christmas Lectures are co-produced by the Ri and Windfall Films for BBC Four and iPlayer. They were commissioned by Kate Phillips, director of unscripted and Jack Bootle, head of commissioning for specialist factual. Commissioning editor for the BBC is Tom Coveney, with series producer Peter Gauvain, Windfall executive producer for Windfall is David Dugan, and Ri executive producer Daniel Glaser.

Pic: Paul Wilkinson Photography