Duncan James has opened up about a debilitating condition that is affecting his career.
The Blue singer, who now plays killer Ryan Knight in Hollyoaks, has been struggling with an excruciating and “scary” back injury while on set.
In 2016, just before he made his debut on the C4 soap, he was rushed into emergency surgery for the painful injury.
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The 38-year-old later ended up back in hospital after suffering complications, and has previously said that the ordeal almost stopped him from taking on the role of Ryan altogether.
Now, in quotes printed in The Sun, Duncan has admitted that the injury still has a massive impact on his life – and has even forced him to turn down roles.
Oh no, what a loss!
Speaking to the newspaper, he said he recently went for a scan which turned out worse than expected and has had to turn down roles as a result.
At the launch of Jason Gardiner’s latest stage production Ruthless!, Duncan said: “I think because I haven’t kept up my physiotherapy and I’ve been working so much I haven’t been able to do what I need to do so my back’s still bad.
“I had an MRI scan recently which was a bit unfortunate because I was hoping things might be better than they are and they’re not.
“So I’ve got to figure out what I’m going to do now with my back, but it’s not great.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfCM8AQFNce/?hl=en&taken-by=mrduncanjames
Duncan suffered a massive back injury when starring in Priscilla Queen of The Desert in 2015 and 2016.
He was in so much pain that he had to use a walking stick after being left paralysed down his left side.
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And he almost died in June 2016, when vital fluid from his brain began pouring out of an old surgery wound… Luckily doctors saved him when he was rushed to theatre.
He also told the newspaper: “It’s not so bad when I’m on tour with the boys, it’s just doing a show again. I can’t dance in a pair of heels.
“I was up for a part in Kinky Boots and I couldn’t do it because it’s a part where I’m in heels again and I can’t put that strain on my back. It’s really bad.
“It’s a bit of a worry for me because it’s my life,” he went on to say. “My life is about doing what I do and I’ve been doing it since I was five years old. All you can have is your health and it affects everything.
“I need to get my back sorted because it’s a big worry. It’s scary.”
Duncan will soon be leaving Hollyoaks after two years.
After murdering Amy Barnes, Ryan had rather hoped he’d get away with it – but not so! His exit will play out in dramatic scenes to be aired next week.
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