Keele Professor helps BBC drama to get the science right!


Posted on 08 September 2015

Emeritus Professor Hilary Hurd recently provided consultation for the BBC daytime drama ‘Doctors’, which is set in a GP practice.

An upcoming episode will feature a reference to some of the most fascinating parasites in the natural world – those that manipulate the behaviour of their hosts for their own benefit.  Prof. Hurd has a long-standing interest in such parasites – particularly in the malaria parasite and how it might alter the behaviour of its mosquito host.  The request for scientific advice was referred from the British Society of Parasitology (for which another member of Keele CAEP, Dr Catherine Merrick, is currently Communications Secretary).  The BSP regularly receives enquiries and requests from the general public about parasite biology.