BBC Morning Live favourite Dr Xand van Tulleken has revealed the heart-stopping moment he had to abandon a live podcast recording after receiving an urgent call from his wife, who had gone into labour.
The Mid-Recording Phone Call
The GP and resident health expert was in the middle of filming an episode of his 'What's Up Docs' podcast with his twin brother, Christoffer, when his phone rang. Interrupting the conversation, Xand apologised and said he had to take the call, explaining it was crucial.
On the line was his wife, Dolly, who calmly informed him she believed she was going into labour. She described experiencing 'quite regular period painy feelings' that were similar to the sensations she had before the birth of their son, Rex. Dolly concluded the call by sensibly suggesting, 'So I think it would be good if you came home.'
A Doctor's Dash Home
Putting his medical expertise to immediate use, Dr van Tulleken reassured his wife, telling her she was experiencing waves of contractions. He then turned to his brother, Christoffer, to explain the situation: 'Chris we're now 41 weeks plus one, Dolly's having regular period pain.'
Christoffer's response was swift and left no room for debate. He joked, 'Why are you still speaking? I think you've gotta leave!' Taking the advice, Xand immediately got up and sprinted from the studio to be by his wife's side.
A Perfect Home Birth Arrival
In a follow-up video shared as part of the same clip, a beaming Xand held his newborn daughter, Daphne. He recounted, 'So I got home in good time, having sprinted from the studio but Dolly was in labour and our daughter Daphne was born at home at 10:30 that night.'
He proudly showed off his daughter's feet to the camera, declaring her and her mother to be 'absolutely perfect'. While the podcast clip was posted recently, Dolly had actually announced the happy news on December 5, revealing their daughter Daphne Rita Adora van Tulleken was born on November 27, 2025.
In her social media post, Dolly shared charming details of the home birth, noting Daphne arrived 'between the fire and the Christmas tree'. She also thanked her team of midwives who assisted with the birth and subsequent hospital visit for the removal of her placenta before the family returned home for newborn cuddles.
This is the third child for Dr Xand. He and Dolly welcomed their son, Rex, in 2024. Xand also has an older son, Julian, from a previous relationship, who lives in Canada. The doctor and Dolly tied the knot in May of last year, with the Morning Live team sharing their congratulations publicly.
