Broadcasting

Authored and presented by me, Three Ages of Child was a paradigm shift in UK health programming: a series about child health that began not in hospitals, but in baby banks, playgrounds, schools, youth projects and family hubs. Centring ordinary children, young people, families and those working far beyond healthcare, it explored what it means to grow up in Britain today — and showed child health as a window into the health of society itself. The series has had a massive impact, has since become a springboard for wider public conversation, policy engagement and Moonshot: a growing national movement to put children back at the centre of how we think about health, society and the future.

I was an expert contributor and script collaborator alongside David Harewood on this award-winning documentary, made as COVID-19 exposed stark racial inequalities in health outcomes. Moving beyond headlines and political soundbites, the film explored the social, economic and structural forces driving unequal outcomes, while centring the voices of those most affected. It went on to win a British Television Award.

Commissioned by the NHS Race and Health Observatory, this podcast series brought together leading voices from across healthcare, academia and public life to explore racial inequity in health and healthcare. As host, I combined clinical insight with philosophy, sociology and storytelling to make complex and often challenging conversations accessible, engaging and impactful. Through interviews with leaders, experts, and people with lived experience, the series helped shine a light on the causes and consequences of inequities in health systems —and what it will take to address them. A project that brought together many strands of my work, and one I remain particularly proud of.

This landmark series put the first two years of life centre stage, bringing the largest scientific study of early childhood development ever conducted for television to a national audience. As the presenter, I helped translate vital research into warm, practical public health messaging — showing millions of viewers how everyday moments of play, connection, language and care shape who children become. The series helped put me on the map as a national TV doctor and remains a powerful example of what health broadcasting can do: make science human, useful and full of wonder.