The comedian and TV brainbox, 49, discovered he had the debilitating disease – which causes tremors, stiffness and problems with movement – a fortnight ago. In a blog post yesterday, Sinha said he plans to continue with his comedy and quiz show commitments and asked to be treated “exactly the same as before”. The former doctor told how his diagnosis came after a two-year battle with ill health, 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.”
The comedian, nicknamed The Sinnerman on the ITV quiz show, was forced to cancel a run at the Edinburgh Fringe and missed the World Quizzing Championships to have a brain scan.
He told how he continued to perform at clubs while “emotionally bewildered” and had to break the news to his loved ones, but is determined to fight the disease.
“With the diagnosis now confirmed and a treatment plan in place, I feel far more prepared for the challenges ahead,” he wrote.
“I have an amazing family, no strangers to serious medical illness, I’m blessed to have a fiancee who is there for me, and I have a multitude of friends and colleagues whom I consider to be exceptional human beings.
“I don’t consider myself unlucky, and whatever the next stage of my life holds for me, many others have it far worse.
“I fully intend to keep Chasing, keep writing and performing comedy, keep quizzing and keep being hopeless at Tasks.” And in true comic style, he quipped: “Dancing On Ice is, I suspect, out of the question.”
Fellow comedians offered Sinha support yesterday after he shared the statement on Twitter.
Chris Addison said: “Paul! My God, that’s appalling. Sending you love and wishing you strength.”
David Baddiel added: “Sorry to hear this Paul. Give it hell.”
Steve Ford, chief executive of Parkinson’s UK, praised the come-dian’s bravery. He said: “Paul Sinha bravely speaking about his Parkinson’s diagnosis, and the journey he has been on to get to this point will do so much to raise awareness of this much-misunderstood condition.
“We wish Paul all the best with his future projects.”
An estimated 145,000 people are living with Parkinson’s in the UK. That is predicted to rise to around 168,000 by 2025.
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