Health Check

Read more about Health Check's presenter Claudia Hammond

Claudia Hammond presents Health Check on BBC World Service, All in the Mind and Mind Changers on BBC Radio 4.

She grew up in Bedfordshire where she began presenting at the age of 14 with a request programme on Hospital Radio Bedford. In her year out before going to Sussex University to study Applied Psychology, she worked in the newsroom at BBC Three Counties Radio. She gave blood literally for the BBC in her first on-air appearance on the BBC for a programme on blood donation. Throughout university she worked for BBC Radio Southern Counties, where she researched and produced programmes and did the greyhound-racing tips.

After reading for an MSc in Health Psychology at Surrey University and doing research in a breast cancer unit, Claudia began lecturing in psychology alongside working as a journalist at the start of BBC Radio 5 Live. A year later she began reporting for Radio 4 programmes such as Woman's Hour and All in the Mind.

Over the years she has presented numerous programmes on BBC Radio 4 including State of Mind, Emotional Rollercoaster and Mind Myths.

As a psychologist she's passionate about communicating what psychological research has to teach us, whether it's through radio, writing or appearing on TV programmes. She also lectures in health psychology for Boston University's base in London.

She is the author of Time Warped: Unlocking the Mysteries of Time Perception and Emotional Rollercoaster: A journey through the science of feelings.

""The great thing about this job is getting to interview some of the most brilliant researchers in the world on the work they're doing. Psychology is a fascinating area to cover because research can tell us plenty both about ourselves and everyday life.""

She was shortlisted for Mind Journalist of Year 2011 and recently won the British Psychological Society's Public Engagement & Media Award 2012.