Best Medicine

BBC Radio 4
  • 4.9 (42)
  • COMEDY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Best Medicine

Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists, and historians to celebrate medicine's inspiring past, present and future. In each programme, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an every-day treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it's micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it's always something worth celebrating.

Episodes

  1. 12/12/2023

    10. Epidurals, Embroidery, Play, Death

    Joining Kiri this week are historian Dr Paul Craddock who unravels how vascular surgery owes a debt to 19th century Parisian embroiderer Marie-Anne Leroudier, historian Subhadra Das unearthing stories of death prevention, comedian Ria Lina pushing epidurals as the best medicine, and paediatrician Dr Guddi Singh who shows off with play. Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. Each week, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an everyday treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Dr Paul Craddock, Subhadra Das, Ria Lina, Dr Guddi Singh Written by Laura Claxton, Edward Easton, Charlie George, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    29 min

  2. 05/12/2023

    9. Autopsies, Light, Escapism, Henrietta Lacks

    Joining Kiri this week is a druid, a drag queen and a mortician...it's one man, Kristoffer Hughes, who puts forward the autopsy as the best medicine. Professor Olivette Otele tells us the tale of Henrietta Lacks, an extraordinary woman whose so called 'immortal cells' have saved countless lives, movie reviewer Ali Plumb talks about the importance of escapism and shares his own story of recovery through movies, TV, art and culture, and Professor Anil Seth sheds a light on...light. Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. Each week, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an everyday treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Kristoffer Hughes, Professor Olivette Otele, Ali Plumb and Professor Anil Seth Written by Edward Easton, Charlie George, Rajiv Karia, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Nicky Roberts and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    29 min

  3. 28/11/2023

    8. Doing Less, Gardening, The Smartphone, Expertise

    Joining Kiri are historian Dr Paul Craddock who talks about what gardening and skin grafting have in common, comedian Shaparak Khorsandi who tells us how doing less helps manage her ADHD, Professor Roger Kneebone who explains how puppeteers, fighter pilots and chefs can teach surgeons to become more skilful and Professor Jamie Ward, who reveals how the smartphone can allow people see through their tongues and hear colours. Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. Each week, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an everyday treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Dr Paul Craddock, Shaparak Khorsandi, Professor Roger Kneebone and Professor Jamie Ward Written by Edward Easton, Pravanya Pillay, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    29 min

  4. 21/11/2023

    7. Failure, Detection, Herpes, Climate Change

    Joining Kiri this week are Dr Lindsey Fitzharris who brings with her a Victorian clockwork surgical saw to demonstrate why failure can sometimes be the best medicine, while Professor Kevin Harrington explains how he uses molecular scissors to modify the herpes virus to attack cancer cells. We also hear from his patient Nigel who went from palliative care to cancer-free. Dr Aravinthan Varatharaj talks about playing detective when diagnosing neurological diseases, and comedian Dr Matt Winning says doing something about climate change is the best medicine. Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. Each week, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an everyday treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Dr Lindsey Fitzharris, Professor Kevin Harrington, Dr Aravinthan Varatharaj, and Dr Matt Winning Written by Laura Claxton, Toussaint Douglass, Edward Easton, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    29 min

  5. 14/11/2023

    6. CT Scans, Inhalation, Faith, Attention

    Joining Kiri this week are Reverend Kate Bottley who offers up faith as the Best Medicine, Dr Subarna Chakravorty and John James OBE who team up to talk about sickle cell, comedian Ria Lina who wants everyone to get a CT scan, and historian Caroline Rance debunking dodgy inhalation practices throughout history. Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. Each week, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an everyday treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Rev. Kate Bottley, Dr Subarna Chakravorty, John James OBE, Ria Lina and Caroline Rance Written by Laura Claxton, Toussaint Douglass, Charlie George, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    29 min

  6. 07/11/2023

    5. Laughter, Other People, Inclusion, Tissue Engineering

    This week comedian Nabil Abdulrashid tells us how laughter and comedy reduced the levels of violence in prison, heart surgeon Professor Massimo Caputo describes how he used tissue engineering in a world-first life-saving heart operation, neuroscientist Dr Adam Kampff brings us an incredible insight into the human brain by taking us from rats that play video games to the birth of language and human civilisation, and historian Phillipa Vincent-Connolly transports us back to Henry VIII's court to explore the lives of disabled courtiers. Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. Each week, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an every-day treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Nabil Abdulrashid, Professor Massimo Caputo, Dr Adam Kampff and Phillipa Vincent-Connolly Written by Laura Claxton, Charlie George, Rajiv Karia, Pravanya Pillay, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    28 min

  7. 31/10/2023

    4. Surgical Microrobots, Backlash, The Immune System, Keeping an Open Mind

    Joining Kiri this week are Dr Christos Bergeles demonstrating surgical micro-robots that can transport the surgeon to areas of the body that are normally impossible to operate on, historian Dr Elinor Cleghorn champions Backlash by bringing us the tale of Victorian medical hero Mary Putnam Jacobi, Professor Daniel Davis explores the beauty of the immune system, and comedian Sukh Ojla tells us to keep an open mind. Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. Each week, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an every-day treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Dr Christos Bergeles, Dr Elinor Cleghorn, Professor Daniel Davis and Sukh Ojla Written by Laura Claxton, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Nicky Roberts and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    29 min

  8. 24/10/2023

    3. Breast Medicine

    Joining Kiri are friend of the show historian Dr Lindsey Fitzharris who shares her own breast cancer recovery story with a detour via Victorian breast cancer surgery. Comedian Jordan Gray champions boob jobs, Sarah Kerruish unveils the life-saving power of AI with MIA, an algorithm that can read 80,000 mammograms in a weekend, and Dr Samantha Terry puts forward a case for injectable radioactive therapies that can destroy cancer cells you can't even see. Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. Each week, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an everyday treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. This week, it's a themed show - all the medicines featured have something in common. For one week only it's...Breast Medicine. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Dr Lindsey Fitzharris, Jordan Gray, Sarah Kerruish and Dr Samantha Terry Written by Charlie George, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    28 min

  9. 17/10/2023

    2. Cytosponge, Fresh Air, Showmanship, Alkaline Breathing

    Joining Kiri this week are Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald OBE who demonstrates the Cytosponge test which detects throat cancer with a revolutionary pill on a string, Dr Jack Hartnell brings tales of surgical showmanship from the middle ages, comedian Thanyia Moore extols the virtues of Alkaline Breathing, and Dr Tolullah Oni explains how you treat an entire city like a patient. Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. Each week, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an every-day treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald OBE, Dr Jack Hartnell, Thanyia Moore and Dr Tolullah Oni Written by Laura Claxton, Edward Easton, Pravanya Pillay, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Nicky Roberts and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    28 min

  10. 10/10/2023

    1. Sobriety, Touch, Camellia Sinensis, Trust

    Joining Kiri this week are haptic technology specialist Dr Ally Barrow with the power of touch and a demonstration of virtual reality injections, mental health nurse Ed Freshwater speaks about a powerful treatment for mental illness, journalist and broadcaster Seyi Rhodes explores what happens when trust is lost in medicine, and comedian Felicity Ward offers sobriety as her best medicine. Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. Each week, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an every-day treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Dr Ally Barrow, Ed Freshwater, Seyi Rhodes and Felicity Ward Written by Edward Easton, Toussaint Douglass, Pravanya Pillay, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    29 min

  11. 03/10/2023

    Pilot: Bubbles, Dancing, Masks, GoodSAM

    Joining Kiri this week are medical historian Dr Lindsey Fitzharris with the story of the pioneering World War I surgeon who transformed wounded soldiers faces, comedian Darren Harriott and his love of dancing, biomedical engineer Professor Eleanor Stride with cancer curing micro bubbles, brain surgeon Professor Mark Wilson with the GoodSAM app that can summon a first-aider at the touch of a button, and the man who owes his life to it. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists, and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future. In each programme, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an every-day treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it’s micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it’s always something worth celebrating. This episode was first broadcast as a pilot on BBC Radio 4 in July 2022. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Featuring: Dr Lindsey Fitzharris, Darren Harriott, Professor Eleanor Stride and Professor Mark Wilson Written by Jordan Gray, Rajiv Karia, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ben Rowse Producer: Ben Worsfield Assistant Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer: Simon Nicholls Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4

    29 min
  12. Introducing Best Medicine

    26/09/2023

    Introducing Best Medicine

    Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists and historians to celebrate medicine’s inspiring past, present and future.

    3 min
  • 12 Episodes

4.9
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by funny and fascinating comedians, doctors, scientists, and historians to celebrate medicine's inspiring past, present and future. In each programme, Kiri challenges her guests to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine', and each of them champions anything from world-changing science to an obscure invention, an every-day treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure. Whether it's micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws, more than a few ingenious cures for cancer, world-first lifesaving heart operations, epidurals, therapy, dancing, faith or laughter - it's always something worth celebrating.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2023
  • Show Website
    Best Medicine

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