Now Im not saying youre Jesus, but people follow you and listen closely to what you say. How do you feel about that sense of responsibility? [Laughs] Im very careful about the things I say for precisely those reasons. Ive worked at the BBC, and they are very, very keen on ensuring that everything is factually accurate. When I make mistakes, they do haunt me, so I am quite obsessed by the detail.
Loading
The UK has been one of the hardest-hit nations when it comes to the coronavirus. Has what youve seen of the coronavirus itself and the response to it shaken your faith in anything at all? If anything, possibly politicians. But politicians have never been that great. I do have faith that science will deliver, that we will have a vaccine, and that well be able to get our lives back to normal. Because if that isnt true, then its going to be horrendous. Its reinforced my faith in the power of science to respond to crises. I believe science will come to our rescue ultimately.
What are your thoughts about the political situation in the UK, and the way it has handled the pandemic? Its a mess, frankly. Its clear the UK government was not ready. I suspect theres going to be a pretty horrible inquest afterwards. There were lots of warnings saying a pandemic was likely and we should ready the scenarios, [but] they just werent ready for what was coming. Thats meant things like PPE were inadequate. Testing was inadequate. [But] Im glad Im not a politician. I dont have to make these decisions.
What has the coronavirus and its impact on the National Health Service shown UK citizens about the health of the NHS itself? Well, my wifes a GP and my son is working for the NHS, so I have love and affection for it. People out there risking their lives and treating patients with COVID-19 has really reinforced the feeling that the NHS is a very special institution. Ive made lots of programs on how the NHS is an unbelievably infuriating organisation, and how the sheer scale and size makes it difficult to change. Yet moments like this is where it stands out.
You expressed relief that you arent a politician but if the UK government said, Wed really love your advice on this, what would you say? The one thing I would like has already happened, and that is to give decent funding to vaccine researchers. There are two main vaccine researchers in the UK one group based at Imperial [College London]; one based in Oxford and until recently the Imperial lot were struggling for funds. Then the money came through. So thats the main thing. [Politicians] need to continue to support the scientists. Thats where the answer is going to come from.
Youve reached your 60s. When you look at your body in the mirror, are you happy with what you see? Broadly! [Laughs] I do quite a lot of press-ups and exercise. I also recently looked at a photo of my father at same age as me, and I have to say Im in better shape.
Your dad lived with type 2 diabetes. To what extent was his health or lack thereof a motivator for you to maintain yours? Hugely. He died aged 74, but for the last 10 years of his life, his health wasnt great a combination of diabetes and prostate cancer. He was very overweight and generally not mobile. You think, That isnt how I want to go; that isnt how I want to spend the last years of my life. When I discovered I had type 2 diabetes, I thought, Blimey, Im going down the same road. At his funeral, his friends said how much I looked like him. Which was nice of them, and slightly discouraging. [Laughs]
Loading
You popularised the 5:2 diet. Is it something to which you still adhere? Yes, but not all the time. Im more sort of a 6:1 guy. When I put on weight, I get stuck into it again. Im sure its the thing Ill be remembered for when I die the 5:2 guy! Thats fine. Id be pleased if thats somewhere in my death notices. Its still something Im very proud of.
Whats more striking about the human body: its vulnerability or resilience? Both. Scientists have now begun to embrace and attempt to understand the impact what we eat has on our brains, our sleep, our microbiome. These hundred trillion microbes live in your gut and have an influence on your immune system. So it makes you appreciate that although we are under attack from a microscopic enemy, we also have these microbes that operate, if you like, on our behalf symbiotically with us. In the end, its not just us. We are many.
diceytopics@goodweekend.com.au
Dr Michael Mosleys latest book, Fast Asleep: How to Get a Really Good Nights Rest co-authored with his wife, Dr Clare Bailey is out now.
To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.
We deliver the best of Good Weekend to your inbox so its there when youre ready to read. Sign up for the Herald's Good Weekend newsletter here and The Age's here. Sent every Saturday.
Writer, author of The Family Law and Gaysia.
Read more:
Michael Mosley: 'Science will come to our rescue' - Sydney Morning Herald
