The Chase star Paul Sinha has revealed his secret health battle as he told how he suffered two heart attacks at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last August.
Only a close circle of friends and family knew Paul's life was in danger until now - and one of the attacks featured a celebrity. Sinha admits he "should have taken a massive break" after the first incident.
The quizzer turned stand up comic revealed that his first attack even featured an appearance from a celebrity. He told the Telegraph: "I got this crushing, constricting chest pain, which from my medical experience seemed incredibly cardiac in origin. I'd got to the Pleasance [a theatre in Edinburgh], when I had a classic Fringe experience.
"Someone recognised me from The Chase and demanded I meet his friend, Levi Roots." He went on to shake the Reggae Reggae Sauce creator's hand but "realised the pain wasn't getting any better".
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He was taken to Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary where the pain subsided. He was treated and sent home before he continued to perform for a week and a half "while actively avoiding hills".
Paul's show, Pauly Bengali, was attracting rave reviews but admits it took a big mental and physical toll. In the show he was hula-hooping to play down the impact of his Parkinson's along with singing and playing piano.
The TV star was then hit by the second heart attack. This time he was seen by a cardiologist who said they recognised a "definitive cardiac event" and that he had probably had a small attack the first time.
Sinha added: "I should have taken a massive break but I continued to gig. The reason I want to share my story is that I truly think performers need to think more about taking better and more holisitc self-care of themselves."
He was forced to undergo a heart bypass operation in December, decribing it as "the most visceral, intense and unpleasant eight days of my life".
The Chase star has been vocal about another health battle after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019.
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Paul said he's pleased that clips of his performance on Channel 4 show Taskmaster in 2019 are used by medical schools to train students to spot signs of the incurable disease.
He took the decision to skip the Edinburgh Fringe this year. He added: "I don't feel that I've completely recovered, nonetheless I have a very full diary indeed.
"The decision regarding Edinburgh relies on so many factors of which cardiac health is just one. Whatever happens, I will only return with a show that I'm proud of."
His autobiography, One Sinha Lifetime, was released earlier this year.
