JonkheerAlexander "Dr. Xand" van Tulleken (born 18 August 1978)[1] is a British doctor and TV presenter. He is best known for presenting the CBBC children's series Operation Ouch![2] with his
identical twin brother Chris, and the Channel 4 show How to Lose Weight Well.[3]
Van Tulleken has presented many documentaries, including an episode of Horizon discussing male
suicide[4] and a BBC programme on the European migrant crisis.[5] He can often be seen offering up his own body for science experimentation in diet show How to Lose Weight Well, as well as in BBC Horizon episodes "Sugar vs Fat"[6] and "Is Binge Drinking Really That Bad?"[7] As of July 2023, he was appearing regularly on the
BBC1 weekday programme Morning Live, providing a variety of medical advice. Van Tulleken is also a member of the "Made of stronger stuff" podcast on
BBC Sounds.[citation needed]
In June 2023, van Tulleken, along with his brother Chris, were the subject of the BBC genealogy programme Who Do You Think You Are?, in which they learned that Jan van Hoogenhouck Tulleken's father, Ambrosius Tulleken, was a wealthy
slave-trader who had a plantation in
Demerara in
The Guianas.[8]
Van Tulleken is married to doctor Dolly Theis, a visiting researcher at MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge and former
Conservative Party candidate for
Vauxhall in the
2017 general election.[11] He has one son from a previous relationship and has a son with his wife Dolly, born April 2024[12]
Television career
The van Tulleken twins often appear on shows together, but also both have individual appearances on various programmes.
With Chris van Tulleken
Presenters of
Channel 4's Medicine Men go Wild (2008).[13]
Presenters of both What's The Right Diet for You? A
Horizon Special (2015),[15] and also Is Binge Drinking Really That Bad? (2015), testing the effects of sporadic alcohol consumption compared to regular alcohol consumption.[16]