Paul Sinha believes The Chase is helping him with Parkinson’s diagnosis (Picture: ITV)
Being sharper than the hopeful contestants is a key requirement for a Chaser but Paul Sinha was concerned for his top quizzer status after a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
In 2019, the 53-year-old The Chase star publicly revealed his diagnosis, saying at the time: ‘I will fight this with every breath.’
Paul can no longer drive or dance due to his condition but is determined to ‘own it’ as he hit out at a fan who tried to hide his ‘shaky’ hand in a picture.
Five years on and he feels more determined than ever to keep proving that this is not the end of the Sinnerman on the beloved show.
‘Whenever I buzz in and get anything right, it’s a point of massive pride to me,’ the comedian revealed to the Daily Star.
‘I feel that I’ve shown in the past three or four years that you can do it whilst having Parkinson’s. There’s no limit to what you feel you’re able to do.’
He was diagnosed in 2019 (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The disease, according to the NHS, sees ‘parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years’.
Common symptoms including involuntary shaking, stiff muscles and movement that is slower than usual, none of which are helpful for fast buzzing in of answers.
Spin-off show Beat The Chasers holds a real special place in Paul’s heart — alongside husband Oliver Levy who he married months after his diagnosis.
He shared that managing to remain on the fast paced show, where one hopeful takes on a panel of Chasers, is a ‘real point of pride’ for him.
Having to be so quick with sharp reflexes, Paul believes, has actually helped him keep track of his Parkinson’s and eventual deterioration.
The Sinnerman thinks The Chase helps him check his progression (Picture: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
‘It’s a good way of measuring its progression because my results haven’t got worse since I got Parkinson’s. It’s a good way of measuring my brain’s ability and function.
‘I’ve always said that if I felt that the ability was going down, I’d call it myself, and I still stand by that. But it’s definitely not going down, so that’s fine.’
Paul has previously confessed that everything is a little slower than it used to be but that hasn’t stopped him from speaking up for the disease, which Michael J Fox also has.
He called out the NHS last Christmas for sending him a letter ‘demanding’ he prove he’s a British citizen — despite having lived here his entire life.
Paul promises he isn’t leaving our TV screens anytime soon (Picture: Joe Maher/WireImage)
‘I have eight days to scan and email over my passport and three utility bills,’ Paul wrote on X.
‘In the meantime another NHS trust is happily looking after another aspect of my health without alarm. An unpleasant shambles.’
‘”Failure to supply this information may result in appointment cancellation, removal from waiting lists, invoicing for treatments.” I have an NHS pension.’
He did point out he believed this was a computer glitch but the entire debacle was unpleasant nonetheless.
‘But despite my protestations which could have been easily checked, I’m now in a bureaucratic nightmare,’ Paul concluded.
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