I am a medical consultant specialising in clinical microbiology and virology at Cambridge University and its teaching hospital, Addenbrooke's. I am a member of the University of Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), and also a Fellow Commoner at Queens' College, Cambridge.

I created the Naked Scientists radio show, podcast and website. I currently co-present the Naked Scientists, am a science correspondent for ABC Radio National, Australia, present 5 live Science on BBC Radio 5 live on Sunday mornings, and also talk science and answer listeners' questions for 30 minutes every Monday and Friday on Primedia's Talk Radio 702/567 CapeTalk, in South Africa. I also appear on Radio New Zealand National to talk about recent scientific breakthroughs.

I have published four popular science books internationally: one of them – Crisp Packet Fireworks (now republished under the title BOOM!), has become a best-seller and been translated into multiple languages.

I live outside Cambridge with my wife, Sarah, who is a GP. We have two children, Amelia and Tim.