This episode of What’s My Age Again is a little bit different - Katherine isn’t revealing anyone’s biological age - but instead, revealing the secrets of our microbiomes and bunking myths about our guts.  It’s all thanks to our friends - and friendly bacteria - at Yakult sponsoring this episode. 

 Katherine and Dr Nichola Conlon are joined by award-winning nutrition scientist Dr Emily Prpa. In addition to holding a PhD from King’s College London, Emily also boasts a near-perfect gut-biome score so we know she practices what she preaches.  

 Dr Emily calls herself a ‘friendly neighbourhood food detective’, who specialises in studying how different foods can make our bodies and brains feel their best, cutting through the noise to provide simple tips to improve our everyday wellbeing.  

 This episode on gut health is so much more than a science lesson - expect to hear about how kissing swaps bacteria, babies eating charcuterie, how one woman ‘cured’ her mental health conditions with her husband’s poo, why a c-section won’t harm a babies microbiome, oh - and what on earth a crapsule is.  

  Thank you very much to our friends - and friendly bacteria - at Yakult for sponsoring this episode.

In the first of our bonus episodes ‘What’s YOUR Age Again?’, Dr Nichola Conlon takes your questions about biological age. 

It’s an extra episode while we’re working on Season 2 to find out what you want to know about longevity.  

In this podcast we hear from Holly – she wants to know how being overweight impacts on biological age.  New mum Alice isn’t getting much sleep at the moment because of her young son – how will that be affecting her biological age and what can she do about it?   Dr Nichola also explains what happens to the body during menopause and what you can do to stay feeling well and energetic as your body changes. 

You’ll also hear highlights from Season One with our celebrity guests, Joanne McNally, Bryony Gordon and Sophie Ellis Bextor.  

We'd love you to take part in ‘What’s Your Age Again?’ or if you have a questions about biological age for Dr Nichola, please message us on the What’s My Age Again socials https://www.instagram.com/whatsmyageagain_pod or email on [email protected]  

 Lead producer– Henrietta Harrison

Social media -   Cassidy Rebelo

Artwork – Ben Watkins 

Sound Designer – Holly Simonds

Chief CreatIve Officer – Lucie Cave

Adam Buxton is 56 years old and says he’ll be happy if the result comes in at anything under 65.  Reduced stress and life in the country with his loving family and dog should be reflected in the result and he’s hoping recent improvements in his diet and lifestyle will bode well. 

 He talks to Katherine about his split from his comedy wife Joe Cornish, how going to boarding school at a young age made him value friendships but gave him a fear of rejection with women.  He also talks about his mum, her attitude to ageing and how she handled end of life.  

 Adam runs through his new and improved breakfast routine with Nichola.  She assesses his new choices and gives the low-down on which are the food fads that will reduce inflammation and which are the ones to ignore.  Plus the benefits of living in the countryside and the positive impact of purpose and good relationships. 

 Adam recorded this episode when he was 55, just before his birthday.  He also talked about his new memoir ‘I Love you, Byee’.  

 Lead producer– Henrietta Harrison

Social media -   Cassidy Rebelo

Video Producer – Elena Cotton

Video Producer– David May

Artwork – Ben Watkins 

Video Editor -  Paul Collins-Reddin 

Head of Video – Edie Jefferys

Sound Designer – Dominic Delargy

Executive Producer – Mick Coyle

Chief CreatIve Officer – Lucie Cave

(WARNING: This episode includes strong language and sexual references which some people might find offensive)   

 Michelle de Swarte began smoking cannabis from a young age and while working as a model in New York and London did ALOT of recreational drugs.  

 She’s now 44 and working as a successful writer and comedian and tells Katherine she has replaced the class A’s with as many vitamins and supplements.  She’s not too worried about ageing but really nervous about her biological age and is hoping her new lifestyle will be reflected in the result.  

 In this brilliant, thought-provoking and open interview, she shares how her troubled childhood shaped her, how she got lost in the game of fillers and how she came to the positive decision to live life child-free.   

 Michelle de Swarte’s family describe her as Darth Vaper and Michelle admits she has more than the occasional puff.  Dr Nichola Conlon looks at the emerging science on vaping and smoking and how they affect biological age.  Nichola also assesses Michelle’s vitamins and which ones are best for her reversing the ageing process on the inside.  

 Michelle de Swarte wrote and starred in the BBC comedy drama Spent.  She’s on tour in the Autumn with her new show ‘The Afters’  that looks at youth, social media and ageing.   

 Lead producer– Molly Carter

Social media -   Cassidy Rebelo

Video Producer – Elena Cotton

Video Producer– David May

Artwork – Ben Watkins 

Video Editor -  Paul Collins-Reddin 

Head of Video – Edie Jefferys

Sound Designer – Dominic Delargy

Executive Producer – Henrietta Harrison

Chief CreatIve Officer – Lucie Cave 

Dame Denise Lewis is 52 but feels much younger and says if her biological age is any higher than 38  - she’ll sprint out of the studio in a strop.  

 She’s an Olympic Gold winner, a mum of 4 and now heads up UK Athletics which promotes young talent looking to represent the country.  She’s a high achieving woman, at home and and at work but says, over the years, she’s learnt when and how to ask for help.  

For anyone juggling family, friends and work, it’s an inspiring listen and Denise tells an incredible story about turning fifty and how nothing was going to stop her from partying that day.   

 Dr Nichola Conlon deep dives into the menopause and explains how the body changes during that time and the dramatic impact it can have on your biological age.  

 Dame Denise Lewis’ book Adaptability Seven Lessons to Thrive in a World of Competing Demands is available now.  

Alastair Campbell co-hosts the UK’s most successful podcast, The Rest is Politics and a huge percentage of the audience is under thirty.  He tells Katherine why he thinks he still appeals to the young.   

  He’s 68 but he’s hoping his biological age will be 21.  If it’s not, he’s calling for a recount or an overhaul of the system!  

 His kids keep him feeling young, but Alastair says it can be challenging being the oldest man in the audience when he’s watching his comedian daughter Grace perform her often explicit set.   

 He lives a healthy life now but will colitis, stress and past struggles with depression and alcoholism have impacted on his biological age? 

 Dr Nichola Conlon gives her verdict on Alastair’s result and applauds his commitment to cold water swimming.  She explains what happens to the body when you plunge in cold water, and how long you need to be in cold water per week to get the health benefits.  

  If you want an explainer on how UK politics work, the books  Why Politics Matter and Alastair Campbell Talks Politics are available now

  Alastair Campbell recorded this before he turned 68.

 Lead producer– Henrietta Harrison

Social media -   Cassidy Rebelo

Video Producer – Elena Cotton

Video Producer– David May

Artwork – Ben Watkins 

Video Editor -  Paul Collins-Reddin 

Head of Video – Edie Jefferys

Sound Designer – Dominic Delargy

Executive Producer – Mick Coyle

Chief CreatIve Officer – Lucie Cave

John and Edward Grimes burst on to the scene in 2009 as a phenomenon on X-Factor, and have been a mainstay on the showbiz scene ever since.

TV, movies, Eurovision: no one can escape this Irish duo's j-epic brand of entertainment.

But what impact has more than 15 years of fame had on the boys as they became men?

Their care-free, feel-good attitude is synonymous with the Jedward brand, but losing their mum at an early age, and playing the fame-game has had its own impact behind the scenes.

Now 33, they've given Katherine Ryan a few drops of their blood to get it tested, so she can find out their biological age.

As twins, their DNA is an exact match, so our resident scientist Dr Nichola Conlon explains how slight variations in diet and mindset could be a reason why their biological ages might differ...  

And will the boys get competitive when the results are incoming? You bet!

 Lead producer– Mick Coyle

Social media -   Cassidy Rebelo

Video Producer – Elena Cotton

Video Producer– David May

Artwork – Ben Watkins 

Video Editor -  Paul Collins-Reddin 

Head of Video – Edie Jefferys

Sound Designer – Dominic Delargy

Executive Producer – Henrietta Harrison

Chief CreatIve Officer – Lucie Cave

Katie Price says she’s in a better place than she’s ever been and at the age of 47 is finally fully in control of how she lives her life.    She’s been in the public eye since she was 18 years old and with sexual assault, 3 kidnap attempts and a hijack at gun point in South Africa she’s had way more than her fair share of trauma. In this hugely open and emotional interview, she talks to Katherine about her breakdown and the therapy she’s done over the years to deal with the drama she’s constantly lived with. But will the trauma have impacted on her biological age? 

Katie talks about her exes, Katherine and Katie bond over the bad men choices they’ve made over the years and Katie admits it’s left her with trust issues.  Katie talks lovingly, as always, about her 5 children and her adorable Harvey.  She says the door is always open to Dwight Yorke even though he’s never played a part in his son’s life.  

Katie is charming and relatable as ever.  She says age doesn’t bother her but admits she’s addicted to changing her body through surgery and wants to have another kid. 

Dr Nichola Conlon explains the test to Katie and explains how trauma changes your hormones and impacts on your biological age.  Katie tells Nichola about her diet and Nichola explains where there’s room for improvement and the supplements she could start taking. Katie is in perimenopause and Nichola talks about how that can also impact on your biological age.  

Katie talks about sexual assault, trauma and abuse in this episode which some listeners and viewers might find upsetting.  You can find support organisations here:  

www.hubofhope.co.uk i 

Katie recorded this interview  before her birthday in May when she was 46.  

Lead producer– Henrietta Harrison

Social media -   Cassidy Rebelo

Video Producer – Elena Cotton

Video Producer– David May

Artwork – Ben Watkins 

Video Editor -  Paul Collins-Reddin 

Head of Video – Edie Jefferys

Sound Designer – James Stodd

Chief CreatIve Officer – Lucie Cave 

Sheila Hancock tells Katherine that since turning ninety she’s been treated differently and says you have to battle against the limitations that society puts on you as you age.  

Born in 1933, Sheila has been on our stage and screen for 70 years but in latter years has been best known for her writing.  She says the global political atmosphere now is reminiscent of the years before  World War Two and her and her contemporaries are alarmed.  But she says, with great troubles can come great change.

She still misses her late husband John Thaw, who died 25 years ago, but says her curiosity and grandchildren keep her young.  She admits she has on occasion used the power of her title, Dame, to get tables in restaurants and get her own way!

Dr Nichola Conlon and Sheila discuss how loneliness and isolation can impact on your biological age and Nichola talks about the difference between your life span and health span.   Nichola applauds Sheila, who has just joined a gym and says, you are never too old to exercise and build muscle.

This interview was recorded before VE day.

Lead producer– Henrietta Harrison

Social media -   Cassidy Rebelo

Video Producer – Elena Cotton

Video Producer– David May

Artwork – Ben Watkins 

Video Editor -  Paul Collins-Reddin 

Head of Video – Edie Jefferys

Sound Designer – Dominic Delargy

Chief CreatIve Officer – Lucie Cave

 Sophie is in her mid forties and says she’s finally shed her inner critic and found a new power. She tells Katherine she’s more confident on stage now than she ever was in her twenties and says the resurgence of her hit single Murder on the Dance Floor has been wonderful and rejuvenating.   

Her mother, Janet Ellis (famous for presenting Blue Peter in the 1970s) has taught her how to age well but she’s still worried having 5 kids may push her biological age into triple figures.   

Her love of music, she says, has kept her playful and her and Katherine discuss if dancing is like having sex in a long-term relationship; you have to keep doing it, even when you don’t always feel like it.   

Dr Nichola praises her for her diet and they all discuss the benefits of Sophie’s unusual, fermented rider request. Nichola talks about music and the science behind how it can reduce your biological age.  Plus why Sophie’s pandemic kitchen disco not only kept her young but probably reduced the biological age of anyone who joined in.  

Sophie’s new album, the aptly named ‘Perimenopop’ is out on September 12th pre order here 

Lead producer– Henrietta Harrison

Social media -   Cassidy Rebelo

Video Producer – Elena Cotton

Video Producer– David May

Artwork – Ben Watkins 

Video Editor -  Paul Collins-Reddin 

Head of Video – Edie Jefferys

Sound Designer – Dominic Delargy

Executive Producer – Mick Coyle

Chief CreatIve Officer – Lucie Cave