Does your immune system need boosting?
What's Up Docs?
BBC
4.4 • 659 Ratings
🗓️ 17 February 2026
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken cut through the confusion around every aspect of our health and wellbeing.
What defines a well-functioning immune system, and why are some people seemingly "immune" to everything while others catch every cold? In this episode, Chris and Xand dive into the complex mechanics of immunology. They tackle the controversial trend of "immune boosting" and discuss the delicate balance between under-active and over-active responses.
To help unpick this, they're joined by Professor Dan Davis, Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London and author of Self-Defence - a myth-busting guide to immune health.
If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.
Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Prof Daniel Davis Producer: Faye Lyons-White Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Jo Rowntree Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researcher: Mili Ostojic Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Visual Producer: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
At the BBC: Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio Podcasts. |
| 0:05.6 | Oh, hello. You have chosen a BBC podcast, but before you listen to it, we thought you might like our podcast too. |
| 0:12.1 | You might. You might. It is called Sightraught with me, Nick Grimshaw. |
| 0:15.2 | And me, Annie Mack. And we talk about the week in music. |
| 0:18.2 | All the news, all the cultural happenings in the UK and beyond. |
| 0:22.2 | And great guests. |
| 0:23.3 | And it's on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:24.7 | Yes, where you can also enjoy lots of playlists, music mixes and live radio. |
| 0:29.9 | Everything from my six music breakfast show to Radio 3 Unwind. |
| 0:34.5 | But obviously start with our podcast, sidetrack. |
| 0:36.3 | Obviously. |
| 0:36.7 | Obviously. |
| 0:55.5 | So if you like music, listen on BBC Sounds. Hello and welcome to Radio 4's health and well-being podcast with me, Dr. Zand. And me, Dr. Chris. And Chris, this morning, you and I have had a mix-up and you've been drinking my beverage. What? No, I haven't. I've had my Chris. This is a coincidental mix-up which very nicely introduces today's topic, the immune system. |
| 1:03.6 | All right, don't look so horrified. What I obviously need to do is go out immediately to some kind of shop and buy some immune boosting products, although I do wonder |
| 1:12.0 | if it's a bit late at this point. |
| 1:13.4 | Could be too late like a sort of apocalypse zombie movie. |
| 1:16.6 | Well, Chris, is it possible to boost your immune system? |
| 1:19.3 | Is one of the questions we're going to be putting to our expert today? |
| 1:22.9 | That's right. |
| 1:23.3 | And I would say there is no other area of wellness that is so fraught with myth and misinformation and general grifting. |
| 1:31.8 | But it is also a very important, fascinating bit of science. |
| 1:35.4 | Yes. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.