Paul Sinha: Star of TV show The Chase reveals he has Parkinson’s disease at 49

The Chase star Paul Sinha has revealed he has Parkinson’s disease at the age of 49.

Sinha, who appears on the Bradley Walsh-hosted TV show under the nickname The Sinnerman, vowed to fight the condition.

He said on Twitter he “will fight this with every breath I have” before sharing further details of his diagnosis in a blog post.

He said he wanted to be treated “exactly the same as before” and intends to remain on the ITV quiz show, and to keep writing, performing comedy and quizzing.

The former doctor said in his blog that he was diagnosed on 30 May after two years of health 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.

“In the time since my Parkinson’s started I have been ludicrously busy, and fully intend to keep Chasing, keep writing and performing comedy, keep quizzing and keep being hopeless at Tasks.”

He added: “Dancing On Ice is, I suspect, out of the question.”

Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years and symptoms include involuntary shaking of parts of the body, the slowing of movement and stiff, inflexible muscles.

Sinha attended south London public school Dulwich College and later St George’s Hospital Medical School in Tooting.

In the 1990s he qualified as a GP but during his time at St George’s he developed a taste for the stage, honing his stand-up skills in the school’s revue.

He has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe a number of times, with his material that draws heavily on his Bengali background and sexuality.

He has appeared in BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, The Now Show and Loose Ends as well as his own programme Paul Sinha’s Quiz Culture, and he is currently appearing on Taskmaster on Dave.

He was dubbed “The Sinnerman” after making his debut on The Chase in 2011.

He appears as a quizzer, or a Chaser, on The Chase alongside fellow quiz experts Mark “The Beast” Labbett, Anne “The Governess” Hegerty, Shaun “The Dark Destroyer” Wallace and Jenny “The Vixen” Ryan.

Steve Ford, chief executive of Parkinson’s UK, praised Sinha for speaking about his diagnosis.

Mr Ford 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.

“With more than 40 symptoms, Parkinson’s undoubtedly throws up new challenges, but with the right treatment and support we can help people to take control of their lives with this unpredictable condition.

“Paul’s determination to live well with Parkinson’s is mirrored by an incredibly passionate Parkinson’s community, determined both to find new and better treatments but also to not let Parkinson’s hold them back.

“We wish Paul all the best with his future projects.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Paul Sinha: Star of TV show The Chase reveals he has Parkinson’s disease at 49