Claudia Hammond

Claudia Hammond presents All in the Mind, State of Mind, Mind Changers and Case Study on BBC Radio 4.

She grew up in Bedfordshire where she began presenting at the age of 14 with a request programme on Hosptial 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 Radio 4 including Emotional Rollercoaster, Beyond the Tastebuds and Frontiers.

Her first book Emotional Rollercoaster - a journey through the science of feelings has been translated into six languages. As a psychologist she's passionate about communicating what psychological research has to teach us, whether it's through radio, through her monthly column in Psychologies magazine or discussing psychological research on Richard & Judy on Channel 4. She also lectures in health psychology for Boston University's UK base.

"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. Psychological research is a fascinating area to cover because it really can tell us plenty both about ourselves and everyday life."

Claudia travels widely for her weekly global health programme Health Check on the BBC World Service. Her programme on a floating hospital in Bangladesh was shortlisted for the Medical Journalism Awards 2008 and a Guardian newspaper feature she wrote on the largest brothel in Bangladesh was shortlisted for the international humanitarian journalism award The Premio Luchetta 2008.