John McCririck has sparked concern among his fans following an appearance on Big Brother’s Bit On The Side on Thursday night.
Racing pundit and Celebrity Big Brother favourite John joined host Rylan Clark-Neal on the 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 78-year-old John’s “frail” and “unrecognisable” appearance.
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John was discussing the antics that viewers have watched play out inside the house, but fans were more focused on him.
Many concerned viewers took to Twitter to question if John was okay.
https://twitter.com/Goldie090/status/1047979340993060866
https://twitter.com/alunday1991/status/1047972009479745537
#BBUK #BigBrother #BitontheSide #BBBOTS #OMG #JohnMcCririck is on the panel. I had no idea he has had an illness recently. Because of this, he has shed over 3 or 4 stone! He is unrecognisable. Love him or hate him, he is a very interesting character, and I wish him well
— Jax at the Movies 😎🎥🎞️🎬🍿 (@jboothmillard) October 4, 2018
John McCririck swamped by his clothes tonight on #BBOTS #BBUK Why is he on there when clearly he is very frail? pic.twitter.com/Wlj0DYeAWD
— Boiled beans 💙 (@Fulmedames) October 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/Lornz4/status/1047975229434281984
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.”
Last Christmas, John was left seriously ill after being struck down with severe flu.
He has revealed how his illness initially left doctors baffled as it was causing issues with his speech and his legs, before a diagnosis was finally reached.
John told the Mirror earlier this year: “I had terrible flu and it really got to my legs and voice ‑ it was awful.
“It’s hard to recover from and I’m not fully fit. But I’m Cheltenham-bound and we’re booked in for all four days.”
Last year, it was reported that John had lost three-and-a-half stone after giving up roast potatoes.
After sparking some concern about his appearance following the weight loss, John reportedly told The Sun that he was “not ill” but had simply taken up his first ever diet.
John has a close connection with Big Brother after appearing on the third series of the celebrity edition of the show back in 2005.
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He was also a housemate in Ultimate Big Brother in 2010.
Meanwhile, in 2015, during the 16th series of Big Brother, John returned to the house to take part in Big Brother’s Hotel from Hell, where he stayed in the house and other ex-housemates joined him.
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