Covid scientist Jeremy Farrar had recurring nightmare about failing A-levels

Director of Wellcome Trust, speaking on Desert Island Discs, says he believes everyone should get a second chance in education

The director of the Wellcome Trust has spent the last nine months under intense pressure, advising government ministers on Covid-19 as a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage). Yet Sir Jeremy Farrar has revealed that his most frequent nightmare has been about sitting his A-levels more than 40 years ago.

I used to wake up thinking, Have I got to do my bloody A-levels again?' For years, and it's only in the last year or two I've got over that actually. It's amazing, the scars."