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Jenny Ryan sends message of support to The Chase co-star Paul Sinha following Parkinson’s diagnosis

He's revealed he'll fight the condition with every breath he has

The Chase star Jenny Ryan has sent a public message of support to co-star Paul Sinha after he revealed he’s battling Parkinson’s.

One of five chasers on the ITV quiz show, Paul – aka The Sinnerman – shared the news today that he plans to “fight this with every breath I have”.

https://twitter.com/paulsinha/status/1139492311258345473

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The quizzer, 49, shared the devastating news in a blog post which he posted to his fans on Twitter today (June 14).

He wrote: “On the evening of Thursday May 30th, an experienced consultant neurologist calmly informed me that I had Parkinson’s disease.

“It was a devastating denouement to a medical odyssey that began in September 2017 with a sudden-onset, frozen right shoulder, and took in an unexpected diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a lifestyle transformation that enabled me to lose two stone, and a shoulder operation in January this year.

“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.”

Paul Sinha will still be on The Chase despite his diagnosis
Paul Sinha in his role as The Sinnerman on The Chase (Credit: ITV)

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His heartfelt blog continued: “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.

“It has been a really, really tough two weeks. 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.”

He joked that an appearance on Dancing On Ice was now out of the question, and begged that people continue to treat him the same as before.

Hundreds of his fans and fellow TV stars sent Paul their love, including his brainiac co-star Jenny Ryan.

Jenny, aka The Chase’s Vixen, simply wrote: “Love you loads, brother x.”

Mark Labbett, meanwhile, retweeted Paul’s original post.

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Helen Fear
TV Editor

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