How can you look after your amazing heart?
What's Up Docs?
BBC
4.4 • 659 Ratings
🗓️ 4 November 2025
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In a special episode recorded in front of an audience at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, What's up Docs? explores the wonders of the human heart.
"The heart is more than just a pump- it's a marvel of engineering and history, and in this episode, we're pulling it apart to see how it all works!”
Join Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken as they discover how reliable the human heart can be, beating on average a hundred thousand times a day - that's more than 2.5 billion beats in a lifetime!
The doctors are joined on stage by two guests - Sian Harding is Emeritus Professor of Cardiac Pharmacology at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London. She is also author of the book “The Exquisite Machine: the new science of the heart”. Also taking part is Professor Stephen Westaby, one of the world's leading heart surgeons. Over the course of his career, he has performed over 11,000 heart operations and is renowned for his ground-breaking work in artificial heart technology.
Together they'll look back at the history of heart surgery, reveal some of the latest breakthroughs in heart science and surgery, including the future of artificial hearts, and discuss how best to look after your own heart.
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 Guests Professor Sian Harding and Professor Stephen Westaby Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Jo Rowntree Researcher: Grace Revil Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Social Media 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
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| 0:19.4 | Stevie Wonder, welcome. I'm pleasure. Loyal Carnar is with us. We want to hearract with Annie and Nick. Stevie Wonder, welcome. |
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| 0:27.1 | Welcome to Uncloaked, Ireland. |
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