Hold up: Gov scientist and meme king Jonathan Van-Tam went to Notts Uni

Professor Jonathan Van Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (and esteemed UoN alumni), has been trending in the last 24 hours after appearing on the Downing Street news conference, BBC Breakfast and This Morning with Holly and Phil. He has been praised for his matter-of fact, uncomplicated approach towards discussing the virus, labelling anti-vaxxers as ‘nonsense’ and jokingly describing the vaccine as “not a yoghurt”.

Jonathan Van Tam is the only UK Government scientist who could clearly have a post-COVID celebrity career if he wanted. Strictly 2021 beckons.

— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) December 2, 2020

Graduating from Medicine at The University of Nottingham in 1987, Van Tam spent five years in hospital-based clinical medicine and eventually returned to Notts (who could stay away?) in 1997 as Clinical Senior Lecturer.

Jonathan Van Tam (rightly) trending – currently on a mammoth media round answering all the questions. As part of our @UniofNottingham team, he helped us host the fab @DrTedros on our University Park Campus last year #beforetheywerefamous #yoghurt pic.twitter.com/1yhLWWe0i0

— Léonie 😷 (@leoniemathers) December 3, 2020

Professor Van Tam MBE became England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer in 2017, supporting Dame Sally Davies until 2019, when Professor Chris Whitty, who we’ve seen a lot of this year, took on the role. Van Tam’s duties are assisting the CMO in independently advising the government on medical matters and being the head of profession for all directors of public health in local government.

Worth a watch/listen this morning 9am. Jonathan Van Tam is such a good communicator – it’s what we need at the moment. https://t.co/iyRPRKEi4u

— Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) December 3, 2020

All of our future medics clearly have big shoes to fill – expecting to see each and every one of you with Phil and Holly at least once.

Jon Van-Tam is the man!#JonathanVanTam @thismorning pic.twitter.com/wYdjlJgGAI

— Lostock Hall JFC ⚽️ (@Lostock_HallJFC) December 3, 2020