Xand van Tulleken was born 18 August 1978 in London, England. His parents are Anthony van Tulleken, an industrial designer, and Kit van Tulleken, a publisher. He has an identical twin brother, Chris van Tulleken, who is also a doctor and broadcaster, and a younger brother, Jonathan, a television director.

He grew up in London and attended Hill House International Junior School and King’s College School in Wimbledon. He later studied medicine at Somerville College, Oxford, then completed specialist qualifications in tropical medicine and international humanitarian assistance. He later earned a Master’s in Public Health at Harvard University as a Fulbright scholar.

After qualifying as a doctor, he worked in humanitarian and global health roles, including medical work in Darfur during the genocide and in international public-health research. These experiences shaped his interest in medicine, humanitarian aid, and science communication.

Van Tulleken became widely known on television presenting health and science programmes. With his twin brother he hosted CBBC’s Operation Ouch! and BBC Two’s Trust Me, I’m a Doctor, while also presenting documentaries and appearing as a resident medical expert on BBC One’s Morning Live.

He currently lives in the UK with his wife, Dolly and children while continuing work in public health, research, and broadcasting.