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JVT'S BROOD

Jonathan Van-Tam’s family: Who’s his wife and do they have children?

JONATHAN Van-Tam has announced he will be leaving the Department of Health.

Mr Van-Tam - know as JVT - was appointed to the role of Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England in October 2017 and is known for his colourful metaphors at the Government's coronavirus press conferences.

Jonathan Van-Tam was born and raised in Lincolnshire
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Jonathan Van-Tam was born and raised in LincolnshireCredit: Alamy Live News

Who is Jonathan Van Tam's wife Karen?

Jonathan Van-Tam's wife, Karen, is a former nurse.

Not much is known about her age or background.

Van-Tam, known for his colourful metaphors and plain English, has become one of the most trusted voices involved in the Downing Street coronavirus press briefings.

He had been on secondment from the University of Nottingham to the Department of Health from 2017 and will return to a new role as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in March, it has been announced.

According to the Independent, he cited Karen as a soundboard for his speeches, in which he looks to turns "medicine into stories".

He told the newspaper he tries out his metaphors on his wife before sharing them with television viewers.

Jonathan Van-Tam has become one of the most trusted voices involved in the Downing Street coronavirus press briefings
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Jonathan Van-Tam has become one of the most trusted voices involved in the Downing Street coronavirus press briefingsCredit: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street / BEEM

Do Jonathan Van Tam and Karen have children?

JVT and his wife, Karen, have three children.

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer says he lives at home with two boys, while his daughter has left home.

Not much else is known about his children or family life.

But in an interview with Lincolnshire Pride he told of how he loves raising his children in the county.

He told the local publication: "I enjoy living in Lincolnshire, it’s a great place to raise my two boys.

"My daughter has left home now and being the sort of person who likes to live his life quietly, I’m looking forward to a little normality.

"I think that’s a sentiment everyone can relate to."

Where does Jonathan Van-Tam live?

JVT was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, where he still lives today, in a small village outside the town.

Van-Tam still lives in the county, commuting back and forth to London and to Nottingham where he still holds an academic post.

His teaching commitments are currently reduced to one day a week – publishing 8-9 research papers a year and supervising postgraduate students. 

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