The Dr Hilary Show

From entertainers and athletes to medical experts, guests reflect on health, resilience, and recovery, sharing lessons learned on and off the public stage including: • Sean Wallace on balancing life as a barrister with television fame • Harry Hill on training as a doctor and why he ultimately left medicine • Francis Rossi on addiction, recovery and the reali...

In this episode, Dr Hilary speaks with David James from Prostate Cancer Research about why the UK is still not introducing routine screening. They explain what the National Screening Committee’s draft decision means, and what men should know about PSA testing, access, and next steps. They also run through current treatments and the new research aiming to speed up earlier, safer diagnosis. Si...

In this episode, Dr Hilary looks at why modern HAIR transplants are delivering natural, undetectable results that can genuinely reset confidence. Trichologist Marie Royce Book and Dr Ahmad Moussa from Wimpole Hair Transplant Clinic explain what’s now possible with today’s latest science and methods. They also explore restoration beyond the scalp, including brows, beards, and the growin...

In this episode, Dr Hilary and Dr Anita Raja discuss weight, hormones, and the realities facing both patients and doctors. Dr Raja explains why weight management is central to improving long-term health, the role of GLP-1 medications, and how cultural factors shape people’s ability to make lifestyle changes. She also explores testosterone-related issues in men, the limits of NHS hormone trea...

Jack and Antonia Cowmeadow join Dr Hilary for an unthinkably difficult conversation: the loss of their daughter, Lorelei in November 2024, just days before her second birthday.  What began as an ordinary toddler cold rapidly escalated into flu-related encephalitis — a rare but catastrophic inflammation of the brain. They share, with extraordinary courage, the moment they realised someth...

In this special Q&A episode, Dr Hilary answers your health questions. He explains the reality of Paget’s disease and how it affects the bones, offers clear advice on managing type 2 diabetes, and talks through the sensitive subject of uterine prolapse in older women. There’s also expert insight on the weight loss pill Rybelsus, inoperable brain tumours, and recovery after hip repla...

In this episode Dr Hilary speaks with Heidi Bristow, founder of Changes for Stammerers, who shares how a simple breathing technique transformed her life and how she now helps others find control, confidence and clarity in their speech. Heidi opens up about her journey from a childhood shaped by stammering to becoming a voice of hope and practical support for others. She reveals how her technique f...

In this episode Dr Hilary speaks with Rae Denman, one of the UK’s leading specialists in medical tattooing — a treatment used to camouflage scars, birthmarks and skin grafts, and to restore natural colour after surgery. Rae talks about how medical tattooing helps people feel more comfortable in their own skin; the difference between cosmetic and medical tattooing; how she works wi...

In this episode, Amy Dowden joins Dr Hilary to reveal how Strictly Come Dancing helped save her life. She speaks openly about living with Crohn’s disease since childhood, her breast cancer diagnosis at 32, and the brutal realities of chemotherapy, sepsis, and medically induced menopause. Amy also talks about how dance has shaped every stage of her life — from starting at eight years ol...

When leading architect and urban designer Lucy Musgrave OBE was suddenly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, life changed overnight. In this inspiring conversation, Lucy tells Dr Hilary how she went from near collapse to remission — and how one cartwheel sparked a national campaign to try to raise £200,000. From the moment she heard the word “curable,” to the gruelling...

What does it take to stay sharp at 85, sell over 300 million books, and keep going after criticism, controversy, and cancer? Lord Jeffrey Archer reflects on his life and work — from running for his country to facing near-bankruptcy, from building global bestsellers to dealing with prostate cancer. He explains how he keeps his energy, why discipline and resilience matter, why he reworks every...

The UK is seeing a surge in the illegal trade of prescription medicines, often sold online without any medical supervision. In this episode, Dr Hilary talks to Andy Morling, Head of Criminal Enforcement at the MHRA, about how criminals are moving from heroin and cocaine into the trade in prescription medicines. Andy explains how unlicensed and counterfeit weight-loss injections are entering the co...

Dr Anil Joshi is an ENT and facial plastic surgeon who repairs the damage from drug use, trauma, and cancer — and is helping to shape the future of reconstructive surgery. In this conversation with Dr Hilary, he explains how 3D printing is changing what’s possible, and the ethical challenges of saying no when surgery would do more harm than good. They discuss the progression of cocaine...

In her mid-forties, Claer Barrett, associate editor at the Financial Times, turned to weight loss medication, a decision that transformed her health, her habits, and her outlook on life. In this episode, Claer explains what it feels like when “food noise” finally stops. She tells Dr Hilary how portion control became possible for the first time, and why she invested in medical monitorin...

What does it mean to live a life through music? Dr Hilary speaks with world-renowned soprano Lesley Garrett about her extraordinary career on the global stage — and how singing has been her anchor through life’s biggest challenges. From her beginnings at the English National Opera to show-stopping nights at Wembley and beyond, Lesley reflects on the joys of music, memory and community....

At 14, Tyler West shut himself away. His parents broke up, there was a murder outside his home, and he spent two years barely leaving his bedroom. In this conversation with Dr Hilary, Tyler talks about the turning points that followed: playing handball for Great Britain, a chance break on TV, and reaching the Strictly Come Dancing semi-finals. He explains why therapy mattered, what body image has...

Olympic golds between 1984 and 2000, and a nine-time world champion — speaks with Dr Hilary about the health battles that shaped his career. He recalls colitis striking before Barcelona 1992, the treatment that required official clearance to let him compete, and the pain he endured to stay on the world stage. He also explains being diagnosed with diabetes at 35, learning to balance insulin w...

Thinking about taking weight loss drugs? In this eye-opening episode, Dr Hilary speaks with leading nutrition therapist Ian Marber about the guilt we attach to food and the confusion surrounding nutrition. From diet trends and probiotic hype to ultra-processed food and emotional eating, the conversation tackles what we all get wrong — and what we need to hear before changing how we eat. Ian...

In this moving episode, Pete Cohen talks about love, loss, and the mindset shifts that shape a meaningful life. Pete reflects on the death of his wife, Hannah, after a remarkable 12-year journey through brain cancer—and how that experience changed his relationship with himself. He speaks candidly about how grief challenged him to face his thoughts and emotions, let go of “busyness,&rdq...

Ed Balls joins Dr. Hilary to talk candidly about the challenges that have defined his life—from battling altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro with Little Mix, to running three marathons while in cabinet, and managing the osteoarthritis that now impacts his knees and hands. He opens up about life with a stammer and why, even after reaching the highest levels of government, it took years of therap...

Dr. Anand Patel joins Dr. Hilary to break the silence on male sexual health — from testosterone and tiredness to infertility and the myths behind men’s midlife crises. For 24 years, Dr. Patel has been a leading voice in men’s health, tackling taboo topics like erectile dysfunction, low libido, male infertility, and the hidden dangers of testosterone deficiency. In this candid con...

Professor James Calder joins Dr. Hilary to share what it takes to repair and prepare elite athletes for action. They talk about the high-stakes world of sports surgery, the pressure of operating on stars like Neymar, and the importance of rehabilitation over the surgery itself. Professor Calder also opens up about leading the UK’s sports concussion committee, his humanitarian work in disaste...

Francis Rossi joins Dr. Hilary to talk openly about the years he lost to cocaine and alcohol, the damage it caused, and the daily habits he now sticks to without fail. He explains why these days, he still does vocal warmups, crunches, and watches what he eats. They discuss his friendship and eventual distance from Rick Parfitt, the moment he showed his damaged nose on live TV, and why he chose to...

Huntington’s disease affects thousands of families across the UK — but many still haven’t heard of it. And when it comes to men’s health, taboo and time can be two of the biggest barriers to care. Dr. Hilary sits down with two very different guests sharing one goal: better health through awareness, support, and accessible solutions. First,  Steve Lewis , filmmaker and...

HRT has become one of the most talked-about—and misunderstood—topics in women’s health. This week, Dr. Hilary is joined by GP, media doctor, and author  Dr. Ellie Cannon  to separate fact from fiction. With her new book,  The Little Book of HRT , Dr. Cannon offers practical, no-nonsense advice rooted in everyday NHS care, cutting through commercial hype and confusi...