Why do we kiss?
What's Up Docs?
BBC
4.4 • 659 Ratings
🗓️ 10 February 2026
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken try to get to the bottom of the ideas shaping our health and wellbeing.
In this Valentine’s Day-themed episode, they turn their attention to kissing. Why do humans kiss, how did it evolve, and does it offer any biological advantage? They also explore the meaning behind different types of kisses and whether kissing is truly universal among humans – and what it means if it isn’t.
To help them untangle the science behind one of our most intimate behaviours, they’re joined by Evolutionary Biologist, Dr Matilda Brindle. 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: Dr Matilda Brindle Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Jo Rowntree Researcher: Grace Revill Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Social Media: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Sound Design: Ruth Rainey
At the BBC: Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:06.1 | Can I just say? |
| 0:07.6 | You're about to listen to a BBC podcast. |
| 0:10.0 | It's such a wonderful listen. |
| 0:11.7 | So nice. |
| 0:12.5 | There are loads more like it on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:14.8 | Different paces, different heights, the roof is buckling. |
| 0:17.9 | Where you can also listen to live sports commentary. |
| 0:20.2 | It's right foot goes for goal. |
| 0:21.6 | Oh! |
| 0:22.7 | And then enjoy even more podcasts full of analysis and reaction to the big stories. |
| 0:27.7 | The stat that is astonishing is they ended with the lowest amount of possession. |
| 0:31.2 | And she's had to live with that. |
| 0:32.8 | So if you love sport, a passion, it's almost like a religion. |
| 0:35.8 | Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:39.7 | Sort of expecting that every week now. |
| 0:47.6 | Hello, welcome to WhatsApp Dogs. I'm Dr Chris. I'm Dr. Zand. Before we get started, Chris, |
| 0:52.8 | I wonder if you need a little lip balm because your lips look a little bit dry. Is it from all the snogging you've been doing? Even that question. Oh, it's good. It's already made him uncomfortable. Well, that's good. My eight-year-old and I feel the same about the kissy bits of movies. And always have. I've never lost my screamishness about it. Okay, so maybe it wasn't the smooching. Maybe it's the cold weather. But Chris, you're going to have to |
| 1:14.1 | pucker up today because this is the week of Valentine's Day and we are talking about kissing |
| 1:20.6 | where it comes from, why we do it. What does it mean for our well-being or our wellness? |
| 1:44.7 | So only before we get into the meat of this episode, I just want to take a moment to check in with you. If you've got anything for me, has anything interesting happened? Well, we've had an interesting last three days because, you know, often at the end of the day, we're tired. I'm not embarrassed to say we often have dinner in front of the telly. One of life's great pleasures, I would say. |
| 1:48.0 | So it occurred to me the other day that we should watch Titanic. |
... |
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