Celebrity Big Brother favourite John McCririck appeared on Monday’s This Morning to explain what is going on with his health.
The racing pundit, 78, sparked health concerns during an appearance on Big Brother’s Bit On The Side last week when viewers expressed worries that he looked “frail” and “ill”.
Speaking to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, John opened up about suffering from the flu earlier this year and how he’s recovering slowly.
Read more: John McCririck sparks health concerns after ‘frail’ appearance on BBBOTS
When asked if he’s okay, John said: “Well, I’m getting better slowly. I had the flu but it was far worse than that. It absolutely flattens you.
“I couldn’t speak for about three months. It really was awful and you get weaker and you’re on antibiotics.
“Then I got a chest infection and I’m weaker but recovering slowly.”
John urged people to get flu vaccinations to prevent them getting as ill as he did.
He went on to reveal that before he contracted the flu, he was determined to lose weight after losing his job at Channel 4 racing and reaching over 19 stone.
John said: “Ever since I was sacked in 2012 by Channel 4 racing, you feel depressed. You lose a purpose in life. I wake up now in the morning and what have I got to do? I’ve got Jeremy Kyle and This Morning to watch, I have no purpose in life.
“I’ve worked for over 50 years, every day I’ve worked. Never been late for a job ever. Never missed a day, no matter how ill I felt.
“The motto I have in life is work comes first. It comes before family because you can’t look after your family if you’re not working.”
When asked if he was surprised by the reaction from Big Brother viewers over his appearance on the show last week, John admitted he doesn’t use social media so he didn’t see their comments.
Speaking about how he’s doing now in regards to his health, John continued: “[I still feel] awful. I’m not well and when you’re 78 like I am, I’m never going to fully recover but you don’t expect to.”
John’s wife, Jenny, joined her husband on the show to talk about his health.
Gushing over his wife, John said: “She should be carer of the century because of how she looks after me.
“I’m not the easiest of patients and she’s fantastic for what she does for me.”
Last week, John joined host Rylan Clark-Neal on Big Brother’s Channel 5 spin-off show to give his thoughts on what’s been happening inside the Big Brother house.
However, within minutes of the show starting, viewers took to Twitter to express their worry over John’s “frail” and “unrecognisable” appearance.
Read more: John McCririck’s heart-breaking confession as fans express worry over his appearance
In response to the viewers’ concerns, a representative for John told ED!: “What started with flu in the New Year led to a serious chest infection, he is recovering well but slowly.”
Following his interview on This Morning on Monday, viewers took to Twitter to share their thoughts.
John McCririck is a British legend and has clearly been ill. Stop questioning him about his terms of endearment for his wife. They’re still together after all these years so it can’t be that bad. #ThisMorning
— Andy (@LlmA_111) 8 October 2018
1st time I’ve ever seen John be so vulnerable, what a completely different man. #thismorning
— 🇳🇬Amaka🇳🇬 (@TashAmaka) 8 October 2018
I feel sorry in my heart for John McCririck .. #thismorning #bestracingpundit
— Lucy Wilbraham (@LuceMW) 8 October 2018
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