Andrew Winter “My wife is my greatest support”
A serious health scare kept him on bed rest for weeks, but the much-loved TV star had his family’s support all the way
He’s the celebrated real estate agent-turned-television host who’s spent years impressing Aussies with his incredible buying and selling skills. But behind closed doors, Andrew Winter has been fighting a serious health battle – one that caused temporary paralysis of the muscles on one side of his face. Last month, the host of Foxtel’s lifestyle shows Love It Or List It and Selling Houses Australia was rushed to hospital after experiencing an episode of Bell’s palsy. Although the exact cause of the condition – which Andrew first terrifyingly mistook for a stroke – is unknown, it’s often related to exposure to a viral infection or an autoimmune system response. “I was meeting a friend for lunch and while I was eating, I thought I’d bitten my top lip because it felt quite strange. Back home I noticed my eye on the same side of my face was constantly running. I looked in the mirror and my eye was extremely swollen.
“I was rushed to the hospital thinking I was having a stroke when they diagnosed me with my condition,” Andrew says.
“It was a horrifying experience because I had no idea what was going on. I was really worried it was going to be fatal.”
ROAD TO RECOVERY
After two days in hospital, Andrew was made aware how serious his condition was when doctors told him it could take up to six months to fully recover.
And with his face droopy, swollen and numb, he was forced to cancel the filming of his shows for an extended period. “I was supposed to be returning to work on Monday and it just wasn’t possible, unless I became Sia – the singer known for covering her face with a wig,” he says with a cheeky laugh. “Luckily, and unlike many, my recovery started at week three, and after a month I was ready to go back to work!” Despite the stressful period of waiting for the swelling to go down (so he could eat and speak properly), the British presenter had one person
‘I was rushed to the hospital thinking I was having a stroke’
he could always rely on – his beautiful wife Caroline, who he lovingly describes as the only person he knows who remains calm in such a serious crisis.
“She panics over the smallest things, but put her in an emergency situation and she’s absolutely fantastic. She was there for me every day, telling me how well I was progressing and how good I was looking, even when I knew I wasn’t!” tells Andrew, who met Caroline in the late ’ 90s and shares daughters Olivia, Daisy and Mia with her.
“Her support was everything I needed and all I could ever ask for.”
GOLD LOGIE NOMINEE
While recovering – and between bouts of watching his favourite TV show Judge Judy – Andrew’s spirits were lifted after finding out he was nominated for his first ever TV Week Gold Logie.
And the good news didn’t stop there – Selling Houses Australia was also nominated for a Logie.
“It was such great news. The most supportive people have been those who watch the show, and working with such a great team helps, too.
“Shaynna [Blaze] and I are very close and she was an awesome support while I was sick. Both our families are very good friends, too,” he adds. “My eldest daughter even did work experience with Shaynna.”
SUPPORTIVE NETWORK
While the Gold Logie nominee admits some days he thought he’d never feel like his old self again, it was his two big loves – his career and his family – that kept him going through his darkest days.
“My kids, and everyone around me, were so supportive and so loving,” Andrew says, smiling. “They were the ones who made me realise everything is going to be alright. And it is exactly that!”