The Chase star Paul Sinha vows to fight Parkinson’s disease ‘with every breath I have’

‘Whatever the next stage of my life holds for me, many others have it far worse’

The Chase star, Paul Sinha, has announced he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

Announcing the news via a blog post on Friday, the comedian and quiz show expert revealed he had been diagnosed with the condition on 30 May.

“On the evening of Thursday May 30th, an experienced consultant neurologist calmly informed me that I had Parkinson’s disease,” the post, entitled “Diagnosed,” begins.

Sinha describes the diagnosis as a “devastating denouement,” explaining to his fans that his symptoms began in 2017 with a “sudden-onset, frozen right shoulder”.

The 49-year-old is best known for his work on ITV game show The Chase, in which he goes by the nickname The Sinnerman. He is also a stand-up comedian who frequents The Edinburgh Festival.

Sinha described his shock at the diagnosis, despite having been afraid about the true cause of his various symptoms. “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”.

Explaining that he now has a “treatment plan in place”, Sinha says he feels “far more prepared for the new challenges ahead,” which he will be facing alongside his “amazing family”, who he says are “no strangers to serious medical illness”.

Signing off the post, Sinh said: “I don’t consider myself unlucky, and whatever the next stage of my life holds for me, many others have it far worse.”

He said he plans to continue filming on The Chase, writing and performing his comedy routines.

Parkinson’s Disease is the second most common neurological disorder in the world, behind Alzheimer’s.

It is a degenerative condition cause by a lack of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells in the brain.

Symptoms experienced by individuals with Parkinson’s include involuntary tremors, slower movement and stiffness in the muscles, according to the NHS. Other symptoms can include difficulty balancing, nerve pain, incontinence, insomnia, excessive sweating, depression and anxiety.

For more information about the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, visit the NHS here.