Paul Sinha, the popular quizmaster from The Chase, has opened up about the heartbreaking changes Parkinson’s disease has brought to his mental stamina.
Paul Sinha (Image: Getty)
The Chase star Paul Sinha has spoken candidly about the toll Parkinson’s disease has taken on his life, revealing a significant change in his brain function since his diagnosis. Sinha, 55, is best known to millions as “The Sinnerman” on ITV’s hit quiz show, where his quick wit, encyclopedic knowledge and sharp sense of humour have made him a fan favourite.
But behind the confident persona on screen, the quiz champion and comedian has been facing a very personal battle.Speaking on the My Time Capsule podcast, Sinha revealed that his symptoms began long before doctors formally diagnosed him with Parkinson’s in 2019.
Paul Sinha (Image: Getty)
“I was diagnosed in 2019, so six years now,” he explained. “I’d had problems officially a couple of years before that when I wasn’t diagnosed, and I just get on with my life. I don’t let it occupy my mind, because the way I look at it, the more I think about it, the less I’m going to get done.”
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement and can cause tremors, stiffness and slow movement. It can also impact cognitive function, which Sinha admits has been one of the most difficult adjustments.
“For me, the one thing that has very much changed in my life is that I have fewer hours in the day where my brain is operating at full whack,” he said. “My brain is tired, and so I have to stop every day. I have a sort of plan of action so that my brain is at its best when it needs to be at its best.”
The former GP-turned-comedian explained that his condition has forced him to adapt how he approaches work and daily life, carefully managing his energy to ensure he can still perform at a high level during filming and live events.
Despite his reputation as one of Britain’s sharpest quizzers, Sinha insists he doesn’t possess the kind of superhuman memory people often expect.
“People go, ‘Have you got like a photographic memory?’ No. I’ve got none of the things that I’d love to have. I can’t do any of that,” he admitted. “I’ve just got a good relationship with words and numbers, and that’s how I remember things, rather than anything more visual. But I don’t have any of the special skills.”
Paul Sinha and his husband Oliver Levy (Image: Getty)
Sinha joined The Chase in 2011, becoming the fourth “Chaser” to join the panel, and has also competed in shows such as Taskmaster, QI, and Countdown. Alongside his television career, he has toured the UK as a stand-up comedian.
Since his Parkinson’s diagnosis, he has remained committed to his work, telling fans that the condition will not define him. He continues to perform stand-up, film episodes of The Chase, and even take part in quizzing competitions.
In previous interviews, Sinha has acknowledged the uncertainty that comes with Parkinson’s, but says his focus is on living in the moment and doing what he loves for as long as possible.
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