The Chase star Paul Sinha diagnosed with Parkinson’s
PAUL SINHA, star of The Chase, has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 49.
The professional quizzer and comedian posted on Twitter that he “will fight this with every breath I have” before sharing further details of his diagnosis in a blog post, in which he asked to be treated “exactly the same as before”.
He said he intends to remain on the ITV quiz show, on which he is known as “The Sinnerman”, and to keep writing, performing comedy and quizzing.
In his blog post, the former doctor said he was diagnosed on May 30 after two years of problems including a frozen right shoulder and Type 2 diabetes.
He wrote: “Nonetheless my reaction was not one of shock. I spent May this year in New Zealand simultaneously having the comedy month of my life, and worrying about why a right-sided limp was now getting worse.
“Behind the facade of the cheerful, late-night comedy festival drunk was a man deeply scared about facing the truth when back in the UK.”
Sinha said he has had a “really, really tough two weeks”, adding: “Cancelling my run at the Edinburgh Fringe, missing the World Quizzing Championships to have brain scans, performing club sets whilst emotionally bewildered, and of course working my way through my loved ones, delivering the bad news. With the diagnosis now confirmed, and a treatment plan in place, I now feel far more prepared for the new challenges ahead.” Sinha’s myriad media appearances include BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, The Now Show and Loose Ends as well as his own programme Paul Sinha’s Quiz Culture. He is currently appearing on Taskmaster on Dave.
He was nicknamed “The Sinnerman” after making his debut on The Chase in 2011. He appears as a quizzer, or a “Chaser”, on the Bradley Walshhosted programme alongside fellow quiz experts Mark “The Beast” Labbett, Anne “The Governess” Hegerty, Shaun “The Dark Destroyer” Wallace and Jenny “The Vixen” Ryan.