I agree with Tudor Queen, I would look elsewhere for a better supervisor.
If you want to hide that year, you can always say you went traveling as well.

Home office is the body responsible for giving out the licenses in the UK. I would make a call there.

I dont know about a course but what if you came to Germany as an aupair first? You wouldnt have to pay anything and I believe that is the best way to learn a new language. Additionally, this would give you some knowledge of the Universities (and their quality) there.

So at the moment I am the only one who has a different experience:) My supervisor is a first time supervisor but I joined the lab when he had it running for a year together with very able technician.
He knows his stuff, has great ideas and is really invested in my progress.
I think this really depends on a person and their abilities. My supervisor is on a prestigious fellowship only a few get so I reckon that could be something that can offer reassurance (not that those not on a great fellowship are not good, just need to look at other stuff as well).

I am gonna have to echo the other people and say that as researchers, we dont believe you can get a postdoc without a PhD. Its a postdoc for a reason. As a post doctorate. Academic one, not a professional.
Would a different country be an option for a clinical doctor?

I have never seen any age restriction like you mention. I have managed to get 5 or 6 offers for a PhD after I have already turned 30 (bit over actually). So dont worry about that.

Like Tree, I believe that MRes will help you. Good luck and dont give up just yet.

Dunham, of course its not easy for fathers neither. There is however greater pressure on females, plenty of research available for this so you can read about it if you want to.

MrFox, I have a supporting husband. That is not often the problem. The problem is the fact that if you want to have a child and spend some time on maternity leave, this will have a negative impact on your career. There is some funding available but its very competitive (like everything in science) so women do come out worse. The emotional and social pressure is worse for women in this sense.

How many of you actually have kids? I am asking because until you have actually experienced this yourself its hard to understand it. It really is.

Thats why there is Athenna Swan etc, because this problem is recognized.

It is undoubtedly getting better. Its it not just sharing responsibilities, its the conscious and unconscious bias when hiring (again very well documented), childcare problems etc.
Nobody has it easy in academia, thats for sure. But pretending this problem doesnt exist or just putting it down to not very supportive partner isnt going to change that. Women do bring children to the world and they want to be with them during the first few month of their life. It is absolutely heartbreaking to leave a screaming four month child at the nursery because you have to go to work for the whole day, because you are worried to take full maternity leave. Because you have to publish. As I mentioned, there is research available on this issue stating that this is a concern for more women than men. I almost get a feeling reading this thread that women should chose between the career and motherhood?

Dunham, as a female in academia I am shocked by how opinionated can somebody without any direct experience of the issue be. What do you know about the pressures of being a mother? Nothing. Even when you are the one having a career and have a supporting partner, you will still feel terrible for not being around your kids. So yes, there is an advantage for males. What an ignorant post...

Its competetive, so upper second with no placements years etc find it a bit harder. If you can afford MRes, why not? It will help you. Choose a good Uni thought.