The Ticker Tapes

Aspiring performer Hannah was just 16 when her dreams of a career in musical theatre were shattered after she had a sudden cardiac arrest soon after starting at a prestigious theatre college. On this episode she talks to Ruth Huntman at the BHF about the physical and psychological road to recovery and finally realising her ambition to become a professional actress.   As a chari...

Metin Avkiran, Associate Medical Director for Research at the British Heart Foundation, has dedicated his career to understanding heart and circulatory conditions. He talks to Christie about his transition from research to senior leader at the BHF, his personal connection to heart disease, and what he feels the public should know about our cause. If you’ve got any questions about your heart o...

James Wilkinson was on holiday in Turkey when he realised something wasn’t right. On this episode, Bill Snaddon from the BHF talks with James about the diagnosis that threw his life into a spin - and how an anxious wait for heart surgery during the Covid pandemic led James to bypassing the NHS, opting instead to have his operation done privately.  More on endocarditis: https://www.bhf.org.uk/...

Becky Speers discovered she had a heart condition in a dramatic way - when she collapsed at the end of a 5k charity run. On this episode, Molly Tresadern from the British Heart Foundation talks with Becky about discovering she had an inherited heart condition, how she's come to appreciate the ICD that could help to save her life - and how it hasn't put her off running. Becky's Facebook support gro...

Thanieth was diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening heart condition at age 14. She hasn't always found it easy to talk about her health. On this episode, Bill Snaddon from the British Heart Foundation talks with Thanieth about how she found the courage to talk more openly after the death of her mum and brother. Thanieth also speaks movingly on how she'll talk to her two kids if they are fou...

Rachel was in her 30s, fit and healthy, and working as a successful lawyer - and when she started to experience chest pains, heart disease was the last thing on her mind. In this episode, Rachel talks to Molly Tresadern from the BHF about how being a woman affected her journey to the correct diagnosis, and how her life has changed in the 17 years she's been living with heart disease. If you’ve got...

Vicky was born with a hole in her heart but had a pretty normal childhood until she suffered a collapsed mitral valve at 16 and needed open heart surgery. She was left with atrial fibrillation and after countless procedures she received the shock diagnosis of heart failure at just 38. She talks to Ruth Huntman from the BHF about how the lifechanging diagnosis has impacted her life and how BHF rese...

Mark Kearney, BHF Professor of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Research at the University of Leeds, has dedicated his career to understanding diabetes and its connection to heart failure. He talks to Christie about his personal experience of heart disease, the discoveries he has made in his research and his hopes for people living with the two conditions. If you’ve got any questions about your heart o...

Ella was born with a condition called Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), where the two main arteries leaving the heart are the wrong way round. She had heart surgery at just a few days old to 'switch' the arteries to their correct places. Now 19 and at university, she talks to Molly Tresadern from the BHF about what it's like to grow up with a heart condition, and the things she's learned...

Harvinder's father passed away following a sudden cardiac arrest. In this episode, Harvinder talks about the importance of public access defibrillators, why it's vital that they are regularly checked, and why she's supporting the Circuit - the national defibrillator network. For more information on the Circuit, public defibrillators and CPR, you can visit the BHF website here . If you’ve got any q...

Driving home one day, Jo saw a man who had collapsed on the side of the road. What she did next would set her life in a completely new direction. On this episode, Bill Snaddon from the British Heart Foundation hears from Jo on why learning CPR is one of the best things you can ever do. Only 1 in 10 people in the UK survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. But doing CPR with a defibrillator can,...

From the minute she was born with a rare congenital heart disease, little Chanel Murrish was fighting for her life. On this episode, Ruth Huntman from the BHF talks with her mum Fay about coping with the shock diagnosis after a routine pregnancy scan, how her daughter’s remarkable fight to survive earned her a place in The Guinness Book of World Records and the ongoing challenges that Chanel,...

In his mid-40s, Darren was told his only hope of survival was a new heart. On this episode, Bill Snaddon from the BHF talks with Darren about the years of poor health and moments of near-death which led to him needing the transplant. You'll also hear how Darren, with a new heart beating in him, is now grateful for every breath. Around 200 heart transplants are carried out on adults in the UK each...

Anna Smith Higgs suffered a devastating stroke one Christmas, when she was just 24 years old. On this episode, Molly Tresadern from the BHF talks with Anna about how, 17 years on, she's still living with the effects of the stroke - and why she decided to get up on stage and tell the world about it in a burlesque show. Information on stroke and the BHF research: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsu...

In his late 50s and early 60s, George Rook knew something wasn’t right when his behaviour began to change. At 62, he was diagnosed with vascular dementia. On this episode, Bill Snaddon from the BHF talks with George, now 69, about what it's like living with this incurable condition. George opens up about grieving for the future he had in mind, but also how he's found purpose in raising the voices...

At the age of 33, Ben discovered he had an inherited heart condition and would need a pacemaker to help manage it. In this episode, Molly Tresadern from the BHF speaks to Ben about what it's like to go from being a clinical lead in a hospital to a patient undergoing surgery, and what he's learned about navigating life with a pacemaker at a young age. If you’ve got any questions about your heart or...

Haleema had five heart surgeries while pregnant and almost lost her baby girl. At one point, her family was told she probably wouldn't make it. On this episode, Bill Snaddon from the BHF talks with Haleema, now 25, about her rare condition - and how her world changed the moment she looked into her daughter's eyes. More information on Haleema's condition, Marfan syndrome: https://www.bhf.org.uk/wha...

To celebrate the BHF’s 60th birthday, Charmaine Griffiths CEO, speaks to celebrity supporters about their experience of heart disease and hears how their lives have been transformed thanks to BHF research. In this episode, she speaks to BHF Ambassador Graeme Souness. Graeme first had heart surgery at the age of 38. He talks about his shock at his diagnosis, how he believes stress impacted his life...

To celebrate the BHF’s 60th birthday, Charmaine Griffiths CEO, speaks to celebrity supporters about their experience of heart disease and hears how their lives have been transformed thanks to BHF research. In this episode, she speaks to Olympic silver medallist and World Champion, Roger Black MBE. Despite being diagnosed with congenital heart disease aged 11, Roger went on to achieve world renowne...

To celebrate the BHF’s 60th birthday, Charmaine Griffiths CEO, speaks to celebrity supporters about their experience of heart disease and hears how their lives have been transformed thanks to BHF research. In this episode, she speaks to children’s author Jacqueline Wilson. Jacqueline opens up about her shock at being diagnosed with heart failure in her 60s, what life is like living with an ICD, wh...

To celebrate the BHF’s 60th birthday, Charmaine Griffiths CEO, speaks to celebrity supporters about their experience of heart disease and hears how their lives have been transformed thanks to BHF research. In this episode, she speaks to BHF Ambassador James Taylor. At the peak of his game as England captain, ex-cricketer James’ life changed forever when he was diagnosed with ARVC. He talks about h...

To celebrate the BHF’s 60th birthday, Charmaine Griffiths CEO, speaks to celebrity supporters about their experience of heart disease and hears how their lives have been transformed thanks to BHF research. In this episode, she speaks to former Dancing on Ice Champion Alex Murphy. Alex was just 24-years old and working on a cruise ship when she had a stroke that left her unable to walk, talk and pu...

To celebrate the BHF’s 60th birthday, Charmaine Griffiths CEO, speaks to celebrity supporters about their experience of heart disease and hears how their lives have been transformed thanks to BHF research. In this episode, she speaks with Hibernian footballer Scott Allan. Scott was diagnosed with diabetes aged 3 and more recently with HCM. He talks about the shocking moment when he received his di...

To celebrate the BHF’s 60th birthday, Charmaine Griffiths CEO, speaks to celebrity supporters about their experience of heart disease and hears how their lives have been transformed thanks to BHF research. In this episode, TV and radio presenter, Will Njobvu, explains how he was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse at the age of 22. He talks about navigating his way through his diagnosis whilst wo...

To celebrate the BHF’s 60th birthday, Charmaine Griffiths CEO, speaks to celebrity supporters about their experience of heart disease and hears how their lives have been transformed thanks to BHF research. In this episode, Charmaine chats to actress Kimberly Hart-Simpson and her sister Emma. Emma was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy aged 41. Emma reveals how her life has been affected by her...