All the scientific knowledge of Chris Whitty

Chris Whitty is England's medical director, a position he has held since October 2019. The Chief Medical Officer is the senior advisor to the Westminster government on health matters.

All the delegated governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own Chief Medical Officer. Although most British probably only learned about him this year, Professor Whitty has had a successful career in medicine and scientific research.

Before becoming medical director, Professor Whitty was chief scientific advisor to the Department of Health and Welfare and head of the UK's National Institute for Health Research, the UK's health research body, from 2016-2019. He was also Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser and Acting Chief Scientific Adviser - a function which Sir Patrick Vallance now serves full time - from 2017-2018.

Professor Chris Whitty spoke to the nation Monday morning about the current "critical" stage in the UK's fight against the coronavirus .

Speaking to Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance , the medical officer's speech is expected to lay the groundwork for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to establish further restrictions on Tuesday.