Coronacast

This is a recording of a show Hannah and Tilly hosted on hospital station, Radio Chelsea and Westminster on Friday 19th December 2025, to bring in some festive cheer. After a long break, we wanted to check in with our Coronacast listeners. If you would like to get in touch, the best way is via Hannah's substack: substack.com/@hannahcomelately . We would love to hear from you. And we will be doing...

Welcome back! And Happy New Year!!! Bring on 2021! We are so happy to be recording again. In this episode we are discussing the new and all-important VACCINES. Tilly asks Hannah popular questions about the vaccine such as how it works, how safe it is and whether it will still be effective with the new strain, amongst lots of other things. This was recorded shortly before the Oxford Vaccine was app...

Dr Jenny Judge, a forensic psychiatrist in the NHS, tells us about her personal experience of coronavirus over the last 14 weeks.  She continues to suffer severe symptoms, from racing heart to crashing fatigue and burning skin, along with 30,000 other people in the UK who are thought to have post-covid syndrome.  She has not yet been able to return to work, and underlines how important it is for d...

Professor Anthony Costello, global health expert and key member of the Independent SAGE committee, is the very special guest on this episode. London GP Hannah Harris and daughter Tilly talk to him about all the current coronavirus issues including the Government’s handling of the crisis, how to make a success of track and trace, and whether we will see a second wave. They also discuss Public Healt...

We talk to Raz Shaw, a director whose theatre productions in Manchester and London are highly acclaimed; he won Best Director in the UK Theatre Awards in 2016 for his play WIT starring Julie Hesmondhalgh, and his first musical The Producers featured in the Guardian's top ten shows of 2018. He has also written a book, Death And The Elephant (How Cancer Saved My Life), about battling a gambling addi...

In this episode, we are joined by Esh Alladi who is an actor and A&E doctor who has been working on the frontline throughout the last few months. He tells us about his life and work, how he has managed to juggle and succeed at both careers. We also touch on the current political situation and the importance of humility in politics, as well as medicine. Esh's show Fear Fatigue will be on BBC4 t...

Dr Jonathan Round, a paediatric intensive care consultant at St George's Hospital in London tells us about how coronavirus is affecting children, possible treatments, as well as the far-reaching impact of the pandemic on medical education and the NHS as a whole. He also reassuringly puts things into perspective by placing this pandemic in the context of human history. And Tilly talks candidly abou...

We talk to two of Tilly's friends from Brit School, who are now at two leading drama schools in London, and having to take all their summer term classes online, on zoom. They give us a unique insight into how it feels to learn acting in a remote situation, while paying full tuition fees, and how that feels for their future, as actors and theatre-makers. We also reveal Tilly's SUPER power! Her incr...

Our special guest this episode is Professor Beate Kampmann, a paediatric infectious diseases specialist and immunologist from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She treats us to a detailed and fascinating interview about how coronavirus affects children, the virus's unusual qualities, the race to find a vaccine, and her incredible work in the Gambia. It was a privilege and a pleas...

Our guest this episode is David Ganly: actor, writer, musician and all round artist extraordinaire. He tells us what it was like when he had to shut down his West End show as lockdown began. And we share thoughts and feelings about what the future holds for actors and theatre-makers in this time of uncertainty. There's a lot of positivity here and we hope you find it enlightening, comforting and f...

Our special guest this episode is the inspiring emergency medicine doctor Kelly Ameneshoa, who works in a busy London A&E department. She talks candidly about the key issues we face right now, including PPE, the large and disproportionate number of black and minority ethnic people affected by coronavirus, and community volunteering. Kelly also tells us what it was like to have the virus hersel...

In this episode, we talk all things art and isolation with the wonderful Karen Ashton, founder of the Art Car Boot Fair. And Dr Hannah answers an important question about what parents should do if their child falls ill. Producer Russ also gets involved, telling us about the solace he's been taking from birdsong on his sunny spring walks. OpenDemocracy article: New evidence of child deaths linked t...

In this episode, we talk to personal trainer Gaby Browne who gives a moving account of how her life has been transformed during the coronavirus crisis. As her business slowed down, she applied for a job in a local funeral home, and says it has given her a refreshing perspective both on the pandemic and on the end of life. Her words are surprisingly positive and comforting in these difficult times.

We talk with Dr Ben Ford in more detail about coronavirus in intensive care, organ support and what it means, also the importance of advanced care planning. And some light relief: the rise of the pub quiz. Dr Rachel Clarke's excellent article: 'Do not resuscitate' orders have caused panic in the UK. Here is the truth https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/08/do-not-resuscitate-orders-c...

We debate opening windows, the controversial topic of facemasks, and hear from 83-year-old family friend Gloria Jenkins in Cardiff about how she is coping with self-isolation. Links and references: National Theatre Live (youtube and free!) https://www.youtu Tristan Barlow and Agi Katz Yoga Dynamics https://www.facebook.com/tayogadynamics/ Articles about facemasks Michael Klompas et al: Universal M...

We look at active ways to overcome pandemic fears and anxiety, by turning your mind to more nourishing ideas, and we talk to yoga instructor Ciara Watson, who has rapidly transferred her yoga studio online to comply with social distancing rules. Our references: COVID-19 Symptom Tracker app https://covid.joinzoe.com/ Joe Wicks online https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ Jane Fon...

We hear from some of Tilly's friends about their experiences and coping mechanisms, and discuss ideas to combat anxiety and actively manage your mental health in this age of uncertainty. Articles   Tchiki Davis: Think Positive: 11 ways to boost positive thinking https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/click-here-happiness/201803/think-positive-11-ways-boost-positive-thinking     Podcasts   Elizabe...

In this episode, Tilly and Hannah answer more questions and interview Dr Ben Ford, an intensive care doctor, about his experiences on the frontline and the importance of self-isolation to halt the spread of coronavirus and protect the vulnerable.

Tilly and Hannah talk more about Coronavirus, how it makes us feel, and how it will impact our everyday lives.  Thank you for listening.  Please send us any thoughts or questions: questions@coronacast.co.uk

In this pilot episode, Hannah and her daughter Tilly introduce themselves and talk about some of the coronavirus basics. Please send all your questions, comments and feedback to questions@coronacast.co.uk.

Welcome to the trailer of Coronacast - everyday answers to your everyday questions.