BBC top TV doctors learn about boredom from psychologist

Top TV doctors explored how boredom hits our health with a University of Essex psychologists for a leading BBC podcast.

Dr Wijnand van Tilburg joined doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken on What’s Up Docs?

The Radio 4 show, which is one of the UK’s top 50 programmes, examines leading research and work out what is good for us and how to apply it to our lives.

During the programme – which aired on Tuesday and is currently on BBC Sounds – Dr van Tilburg spoke about his research.

'Promote positive outcomes'

The Department of Psychology researcher said: “Our work shows that the easily overlooked experience of boredom shapes our lives and well-being in many.

“My mission is to find out how we can prevent its negative impacts, such as hostility, unhealthy behaviour, and impulsive decisions, and promote positive outcomes such as curiosity.”

This is the second time in months Dr Van Tilburg has also shared his research with a top BBC broadcast.

Just months ago, he was a guest on chart-topping BBC podcast and Radio 4 show Curious Cases - appearing with Professor Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain.

Both episodes are live now and follows the widespread media attention of Dr Van Tilburg’s other research.

A study hit headlines across the globe after Dr Van Tilburg discovered the ‘world’s most boring person’.

The research uncovered the jobs, characteristics, and hobbies that are considered a stereotypical snooze - with the blandest person believed to be a data entry worker, who likes watching TV, and lives in a town.

The academic also recently discovered that urban spaces cause more boring than the countryside.

Dr van Tilburg also won the 33rd Annual Ig Nobel Prize for his work into boredom among students.

The gong is given  to research which makes people think and smile.

The Essex researcher received it for discovering that students who expect to be bored by a lesson end up being disinterested, regardless of whether the lesson was actually boring or not.