Worst Week And A Half Of My Life: The Chase’s Paul SINHA SHARES HEARTBREAKING STORY on BBC’s The One

Paul Sinha has revealed two terrifying health scares after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s during the ‘worst week and a half of his life’.

The Chase star – who is also known as The Sinnerman on the ITV show – was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in May 2019.

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition and the illness effects the nerve cells in the brain that control movement.

Paul, 55, appeared on BBC‘s The One show on Wednesday as part of a segment focusing on this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Paul opened up about performing at the festival and his health.

He explained that while attending Edinburgh in 2023 he suffered two heart attacks.

‘The last time I came to Edinburgh Festival was 2023, I had a show that I really enjoyed but my time here was slowly spoilt by the fact that the first week, I had a small heart attack, and in the third week, I had a small heart attack.’

‘That’s not the Edinburgh that you want,’ Paul said.

Paul continued to work throughout the festival, but he was eventually admitted to hospital later in 2023 and had to undergo an operation.

‘I had a coronary artery bypass operation, which I can honestly say was the worst week and a half of my life,’ Paul sadly admitted.

He added: ‘Everything has been a sort of comeback since then. Steady, unspectacular comeback, no great drama.’

His husband Oliver, who he married in 2019, made an appearance in the clip, and revealed how he is always on hand to help Paul with his stand-up shows and ensuring he takes his medications to control his Parkinson’s symptoms.

Looking to the future, Paul told the camera: ‘Life’s short, and I think it’s very important to get the balance right between doing the right thing for your health and not getting rid of the stuff in life that brings you joy. It’s a difficult process and it’s a difficult balancing act.’

In April, Paul appeared on Loose Women to open up about living with the progressive neurological disorder with Kaye Adams, Denise Welch, Brenda Edwards and Nadia Sawalha.

Kaye asked what his initial symptoms were, to which Paul said: ‘There were surprise symptoms. Everyone thinks you shake. That’s the one thing people know about Parkinson’s.

‘I presented one morning with a stiff painful right shoulder. I’d never had a stiff joint before.

‘I didn’t think anything of it. I thought that this is just going to go away, it just never went away.

‘For a year I had injections and X-rays and scans, eventually they did an operation in January 2019, it didn’t get any better.

‘It was actually a physiotherapist who was the hero of this story, she was the one who had courage to say I think something neurological might be going on.

‘This is a year and a half after I presented. It was the physiotherapist who said see a specialist neurologist.’

Speaking about the diagnosis, he added: ‘Yeah it was a relief.

‘When you know something neurological is going on, when I went to the neurologist, please don’t let it be Motor Neuron disease, please don’t let it be more tangible faster decline.

‘When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, all it’s done is I kinda know I’ve got time to do the bucket list things.

‘Although oddly enough, I didn’t have a bucket list…

‘I did go to Brazil last year, that was a big one!’

Brenda was keen to know how he is managing his day-to-day life now.

Paul confessed: ‘Nothing is dramatic.

‘The reason I’m her is not because I’ve had a major change in my lifestyle or drama, or any major  news, you just get on with it.

‘You know it’s there. You learn to adapt.

‘I feel lucky I don’t do a 9-5. I’m self-employed as an entertainer.

‘It means I can plan my schedules each day around what I’m doing, so if I’m busy in the evening, I try and make sure I’m fully rested in the afternoon.

‘If I’m busy in the afternoon, I try and make sure I get an early night that night.

‘You facilitate your sleep around your schedules.

‘I think that’s very important to be proactive and a bit knowing about that whole thing, work out your time table.

‘The one thing I do, is I do an online speed quiz at 6pm, called Tea Time Trivia.

‘That’s the one thing I always find time for.’

Kaye asked if he was worried about his brain function.

Paul said: ‘It’s always on your mind.

‘My brain is my tool, if I come more physically disabled, I’ll still be able to do The Chase, I’ll still be able to do stand-up comedy.

‘But if I become more cognitively disabled..

‘Those things are out of the question for me.’

Next he explained what other symptoms he has now.

Paul said: ‘My thing is slowness. Things take time. I’ve got to sit down on a bed to put my trousers on. This is a new thing for me.’

Paul joined The Chase in 2011.

The British gameshow has been on our screens since 2009.