Dr Xand van Tulleken 🏳️‍🌈

We’re engaged! The *official*: announcement was of course on @BBCMorningLive. Could not be happier! I’m here for everyone’s proposal stories. I HIGHLY recommend travelling everywhere by tandem (if you’ve met The One) 💕💕💕

New UK screen time rules just dropped — and they’re stricter than most parents expected. From 27 March 2026, England says: zero solo screens for under-2s (except quick video calls with family), and max one hour a day for 2–5 year olds — no screens at meals or the hour before bed. Co-view everything, stick to slow-paced content, and ditch fast social-media clips and AI toys completely. The science is sobering: toddlers’ brains process info up to 10 times slower than adults. Fast-paced screens push them into fight-or-flight mode — racing heart, surging energy — while they’re sitting still. Researchers at the University of East London say this mismatch can wire kids for more tantrums and emotional struggles later. Using screens to calm meltdowns? It often backfires long-term. As a parent, it’s brutal — we all know that explosion the second you take the tablet away. But this feels like evidence finally catching up with what our gut has been telling us. How are you handling screens with little ones — strict limits, co-viewing, or mostly winging it?

@iwontwheesht @FondOfBeetles @LoonyQuine @DoctorChrisVT The transcript of the first few minutes of the podcast you’re referring to. You need a better hobby.

@FondOfBeetles @LoonyQuine I have complained (it’s my hobby) to @xandvt about him and his brother @DoctorChrisVT refusing to use the word woman even when they’re discussing female specific issues such as menopause

Pregnant people? The word is "women". Please sign and share! Petition: Fund research into desexed language in women’s health petition.parliament.uk/petitions/7486…

London. A hotbed of crime, terrorism, Sharia Law and murders. Awful city. Terrible.

You may have noticed a similarity between baby snacks and junky cheesy puffs. It's not accidental - these are ‘bite and dissolve’ foods. This incredible piece by @KitchenBee revelaes the truth behind these and other toddler foods but the really astounding thing is that many NHS trusts around the U.K. are actively suggesting these ultra-processed products for young children. If you have kids or feed kids I cannot recommend this piece strongly enough. open.substack.com/pub/kitchenbee…

@rajiv_dhir2 My train’s doors were closing! All she got was a gasped “you’re amazing!” And then I was gone!

@xandvt Why don’t you reward her generosity yourself - be the universe you want to create for her. I am sure a bottle of wine, would do the trick!

To the lady who picked up my phone as it fell out of my pocket and SPRINTED to catch me at Paddington: a million thank yous. You saved me from total disaster. I hope that the universe rewards your speed, agility and generosity 🙏👏😂

Fancy tucking into a delicious 'evidence' buffet?! The @CambChildrens food team, with @UniofHerts and @xandvt, ran a joyful Food with Care session at our conference. Delegates were invited to discover why food is fundamental to care and how it can be delivered at our new hospital

The voices of children, young people, and carers are at the forefront of @CambChildrens project - and always have been. We were thrilled some of our youth and parent advocates joined a panel discussion, chaired by @xandvt, about coproduction and engagement. They did a great job!

@Barnowl_25 My absolute favourite show

Our inaugural conference was a huge success! 👏 We welcomed over 100 delegates , plus @Rachel_deSouza and @xandvt. Speeches included the integration of mental and physical healthcare and rapid whole genome sequencing for childhood cancer. Read more 👉 orlo.uk/of5nK

@EmJaneD84 @BBCRadio4 have contacted BBC who say it is fixed! 🤞

Small problems but I love what’s up doc on @BBCRadio4 drs notes is now missing in my sounds so I’m episodes thought I’d let you know in case you can fix @drchrisVT @xandvt please 🙏 had my wisdom tooth out last night so good to hear the notes

@EmJaneD84 @BBCRadio4 Will tell production!! Hope your tooth is on the mend (or the gap is) x

The first of three Radio 4 programmes I made on literacy and civilisation is online now. Featuring Maryanne Woolf on the neuroscience of reading, Steven Pinker on literacy and progress, Robert Darnton on reading in the C18th … and more! bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

Thank you for having me on today @BBCMorningLive team! It's always a joy to be back with such fabulous, happy faces ✨️ I look forward to hearing all about your new antique purchases! 🤪😂😘 #homework 😂😘 If you missed it folks, get it on @BBCiPlayer 🤩

The UPF industry and those they pay frequently claim that criticising harmful food generates shame and stigma. What this series makes unequivocally clear is that the true source of shame/stigma around diet related disease is a food environment that forces so many people to eat harmful food. If you are living with diet related disease just remember - it’s not you, it’s the food

We’re hosting a @Reddit Ask Me Anything on the new @TheLancet Series on Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health. If you’re interested in the science, policy implications, or the broader food systems debate, join the discussion and add your question here: reddit.com/r/AMA/comments…

@thegingaman It always draws 10:10. Ask it for a different time!

@xandvt It seems to complete the task on 5.2

ChatGPT still can’t draw a clock face or count the “r”s in strawberry (my screenshot below). Schumer’s article is lovely viral stuff & what I’d be writing if I ran an AI company. It may be amazing at coding but it’s still hopeless at a ton of stuff

@DomOfClarkes @DrinkingGinNow It can often do the strawberry correctly. I’d say 80% of the time. But not the clocks for me.

@DrinkingGinNow @DomOfClarkes I am paying!

@DomOfClarkes @xandvt 5.2 on the free plan

@DomOfClarkes @DrinkingGinNow 5.2! It fails at tons of pretty simple tasks.