Who are Xand and Chris van Tulleken, are the twin brothers doctors and what TV shows have they hosted?
TWIN doctors, Chris and Xand van Tulleken, are rarely far from our TV screens.
Here’s the lowdown on the clever pair who have starred in various programmes over the years…
Who is Xand van Tulleken?
Xand is the older of the identical twins and is half an inch shorter than Chris – both were born on August 18, 1978.
The Oxford-educated 40-year-old currently works as the Helen Hamlyn Senior Fellow at Fordham University’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs.
The qualified doctor has a diploma in Tropical Medicine, International Humanitarian Assistance and a masters in Public Health from Harvard.
As well as being a contributing editor to the Oxford Handbook of Humanitarian Medicine, he also works on philanthropic projects alongside the World Health Organisation.
He is a registered Doctor with the General Medical Council of the UK without a licence to practice.
Who is Chris van Tulleken?
Chris is the younger of the siblings, but cheekily claims on his website that “he’s twice the man Xand is”.
He is currently undertaking a PhD in Molecular Virology at UCL.
Just like his older twin, Chris has many academic accolades to his name.
He trained in medicine at Oxford and has a diploma in Tropical Medicine.
Chris also fronted the second series of The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs on BBC Two.
The second series, like the first, consisted of two episodes – with the first exploring alternative medications for those suffering from ADHD.
He also explored the possibility that some companies are profiting from medical conditions due to confusion arising over advertising and treatments.
What is Planet Child?
Planet Child shows what kids really get up to when left alone in London.
The new ITV show – fronted by twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken – tests the ability of British children to get around in the great outdoors.
Inspired by the impact of the digital generation on child development and how kids experience nature, the programme tries to answer if electronics have left children undeveloped in key skillsets such as risk-taking and independent decision-making.
Children aged between four and seven are split into three groups and given the task of navigating their way from a park to the London Eye.
And quite controversially the kids are left completely alone to get on with the task ( minus the hidden cameras of course.)
Chris and Xand observe the different instincts and reactions of the children as they go about the big challenge.
How are Chris and Xand van Tulleken famous?
The nerdy pair are best known for their various television appearances.
As well as acting as experts and panellists on a number of popular telly shows, they have hosted their own programmes.
Many will remember the twins from the Horizon episode they starred in, titled Is Binge Drinking Really That Bad?
During the experiment, they showed how the impact of boozing moderately on a daily basis differed from going on one big night out.
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What TV shows have Chris and Xand presented?
Documentaries the siblings have featured in include Blizzard: Race To The Pole, Museum Of Life, Medicine Men Go Wild and What’s The Right Diet For You?
They also ran their own show on CBBC, Operation Ouch!
On this children’s TV series, the medical expert explored their way through the world of medicine and biology.
As well as proving their intelligence in their factual shows, they gave Celebrity Mastermind a go in 2012.
Chris has also hosted The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs on BBC One.
While Xand hosted How To Lose Weight Well on Channel 4 and Doctor In Your House.