Christian Jessen

Education

Jessen was educated at Uppingham School, a co-educational independent school situated in the small market town of Uppingham in Rutland, followed by University College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, both constituent colleges of the University of London in Central London, where he received his MBBS degrees in 2000.

Career

Jessen studied medicine as an undergraduate at University College London, graduating in 2000. He holds a MSc degree in sexual health, and has a particular interest in HIV and malaria, which were the focus of his work for two years in Kenya and Uganda.

As well as his television career, Jessen is a doctor with Doctorcall at 121 Harley Street, central London, and has worked privately in the UK oil and gas industry - as well as for the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian immigration services. Jessen also provides occupational health for London Underground and Virgin Trains. An advocate for HIV education and testing, in 2015, he was named National HIV Testing Week Ambassador.

Dr Christian Jessen is not on the specialist register or the GP register of the GMC. He is, therefor, unable to practice as a consultant or a G.P. in the NHS, as he has not completed the necessary junior doctor training. He can only practice in the private sector as this requirement for a minimum standard of training does not apply to private practice.

Television

From 2007 to 2015, Jessen co-presented Embarrassing Bodies alongside Pixie McKenna and Dawn Harper. The show has had a number of spin-off series including Embarrassing Teenage Bodies, Embarrassing Bodies: Kids and Embarrassing Fat Bodies.

Another spin off was set in Australia in 2013 called Embarrassing Bodies Down Under, which Jessen co-hosted with Brad McKay, Ginni Mansberg, and Sam Hay.

He presented Channel 4's Supersize vs Superskinny series from 2008 until 2014.

In 2012, Jessen appeared as the health and fitness expert in Hotel GB. He was the winner of popular culinary show ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ and has appeared as a celebrity contestant on ‘The Weakest Link’. He was also the winner of the BBC show Antiques Mastermind.

He was Jack Osbourne’s doctor during the filming of Finding God and also featured in Harley Street, a documentary. Other television appearances include ‘Sex in Court’ and ‘The Wright Stuff’

In 2012 and 2014, he co-presented the Stand Up to Cancer telethon alongside Davina McCall and Alan Carr.

In 2014, he produced and starred in a documentary series for television called Undercover Doctor: Cure Me I’m Gay. In the series, Jessen investigates gay cures.

In 2015, he was asked to meet with executives at Channel 4, the producers of Embarrassing Bodies, after allegations that he offered drugs to a stranger on a dating app, Grindr. In an appearance on ‘Loose Women’, Jessen performed a live HIV test on a woman and drew criticism for not wearing protective gloves. Jessen defended his actions and called for more understanding on how HIV spreads.

Writing

He is the author of Dr Christian’s Guide to Growing Up, a book aimed at children and adolescents dealing with question about puberty and sexuality. He has also written the books, Can I Just Ask?, Dr Christian’s Guide to You and Dr Christian’s Guide to the Tricky Stuff.

Personal life

Jessen's father is Danish. Jessen is gay; his partner Rogerio Barreto, is Brazilian. The couple live near the River Thames in south London.

Jessen has an interest in antique bronzes; in 2010, he won a celebrity edition of the quiz show Antiques Master with this as his specialist subject. He is also knowledgeable about and collects anything from the European Empire period 1800-1820, reflecting his fascination with the mindset of Napoleon.

He has stated that he has muscle dysmorphia.

Jessen is an atheist and a humanist. He is a patron of Humanists UK, a charity which advocates for secularism, equalities, and human rights.

Filmography