Dame Sheila Hancock – In her nineties but refusing to be defined by her age.

Sheila Hancock tells Katherine that since turning ninety she’s been treated differently and says you have to battle against the limitations that society puts on you as you age.  Born in 1933, Sheila has been on our stage and screen for 70 years but in latter years has been best known for her writing.  She says the global political atmosphere now is reminiscent of the years before  World War Two and her and her contemporaries are alarmed.  But she says, with great troubles can cone great change.She still misses her late husband John Thaw, who died 25 years ago, but says her curiosity and grandchildren keep her young.  She admits she has on occasion used the power of her title, Dame, to get tables in restaurants and get her own way!Dr Nichola Conlon and Sheila discuss how loneliness and isolation can impact on your biological age and Nichola talks about the difference between your life span and health span.   Nichola applauds Sheila, who has just joined a gym and says, you are never too old to exercise and build muscle.This interview was recorded before VE day.Lead producer– Henrietta HarrisonSocial media -   Cassidy Rebelo Video Producer – Elena CottonVideo Producer– David MayArtwork – Ben Watkins Video Editor -  Paul Collins-Reddin Head of Video – Edie JefferysSound Designer – Dominic DelargyChief CreatIve Officer – Lucie Cave

Om Podcasten

Welcome to What’s My Age Again – the podcast that asks:  How old are you?  How old is your body?  What do you do to feel young?  Katherine Ryan not only asks her celebrity guests how they feel about ageing but she also asks them to give her their blood.  Every famous name on the show takes a biological age test and midway through the show we reveal how their bodies' age compares to their chronological age.     Katherine Ryan is 41 but is her body?  It’s a fascinating and fun conversation about their lifestyle, their childhood, their family and their attitude to getting older. Do they do anything to reverse the visible signs of ageing?   The guests span the decades, and we find out if years of being at the top of their game in sport, entertainment or politics has impacted their body.   Dr Nichola Conlon, who has a PhD in biochemistry joins us every week to discuss the guests’ results and to share the latest science on longevity.   This podcast is bought to you by Absolute Collagen, proven to visibly reduce the signs of aging by priming your skin, hair and nails from within, available in powder or liquid sachets, find out more at Absolutecollagen.com.  The test is carried out by the company Glycanage   https://glycanage.com/  DISCLAIMER   The Glycanage biological age test is a wellness test that helps measure chronic inflammation in the body.  It is not a medical-grade device and the biological age is not a predictor of life expectancy.  There are other tests available which use different methods and markers to assess biological age.  This test has been used as a vehicle for an interesting conversation about ageing. Glycanage have not been paid to be part of the podcast.