James Jordan has revealed he’s been diagnosed with shingles.
The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 43, developed a painful red rash while holidaying with his family in Abu Dhabi and rushed to see the doctor once he’d returned to the UK, who confirmed the diagnosis.
James had been enjoying time away with wife Ola, 39, and their daughter Ella, two, but was unable to relax due to the painful condition, resulting in him calling on his Twitter followers for help.
Struck down: James Jordan, 43, dashed to the doctors this week after returning from his family holiday to be diagnosed with shingles (pictured 2020)
He wrote at the time: ‘On holiday and have got this painful rash on one side of my back in my belt line Any ideas anyone?
‘Also got a similar pain on the thigh of my right leg but doesn’t look anywhere near as bad Thoughts?
‘I’m thinking shingles but don’t know what brings it on. Or maybe heat rash?’
What’s up doc? The former Strictly pro sought medical advice as soon as he arrived back in the UK after enjoying time away with wife Ola, 39, and their daughter Ella, two, in Abu Dhabi
With many of his followers telling him they thought it could be shingles, he filled them in this week, writing: ‘Updating fans after home from an amazing family holiday – straight to docs and it’s been confirmed I do actually have shingles like most of you suggested.
‘It’s pretty uncomfortable not going to lie but hopefully will start to get better soon…. Many of you been asking how it is. Thanks guys.’
Shingles is a viral rash caused by varicella zoster virus, the virus which causes chickenpox, being reactivated.
In the UK, 90 per cent of adults have had chickenpox, so will have this virus lying dormant in their nervous systems.
Help: James had been enjoying time away with family but was unable to relax due to the painful condition, resulting in him calling on his Twitter followers for help
Update: With many of his followers telling him they thought it could be shingles, he filled them in this week
James is not the only star to have spoken out publicly about suffering from shingles – Eamonn Holmes was left unable to work when he suffered with the illness in 2018 – shocking fans as he uploaded a photo of his painful-looking face on social media at the time.
Last month, the television presenter, 62, shared a picture of his swollen face and spoke out about suffering shingles on social media in a bid to get people talking during Shingles Awareness Week.
The GB News host wrote on Instagram: ‘Having had shingles, I know how painful and exhausting it can be. That’s why I am supporting #ShinglesAwarenessWeek with @gsk and @intfedageing.’
Swollen: Eamonn Holmes, 62, has also spoken out about suffering from shingles in 2018 in a bid to get people talking during Shingles Awareness Week last month
Last year, Eamonn appeared on Loose Women to talk about his ‘brutal’ battle with shingles, with the broadcaster saying he looked like ‘Quasimodo’ on his son Declan’s wedding day in 2018.
As a picture of Eamonn’s face was shown on screen, the TV host said: ‘This is me with shingles looking like Quasimodo there and as you can see from that, it’s quite brutal.’
Pained: Last year, Eamonn detailed his battle with shingles and how he was struck down with the virus on his son Declan’s wedding day in 2018 (pictured 2018)
He continued: ‘You’ll say, ‘How on earth did you get that?’ Well, if you’ve had chickenpox and you’ve had the virus, it’s there in your system and there’s a very high chance – 60% chance or so – that you too will have shingles.’
Eamonn shares children Declan, 33, Rebecca, 31, Niall, 29, with his ex wife Gabrielle and son Jack, 19, with current wife Ruth Langsford, 61.
He explained the impact the condition had and detailed how his image was ravaged by the side effects on his son’s wedding day.
His boy: He explained the impact the condition had and detailed how his image was ravaged by the side effects on his son’s wedding day, with Eamonn covering his face in make-up (pictured with Declan in 2018)
He said: ‘That was at a time when my eldest son – my only son to get married. That was the first marriage in the family and that was what I looked like on the wedding day and I had to have that covered up…
‘So you can imagine, I ruined all the pictures, I didn’t want to be in them. I didn’t want to be the centre of attention with all this…
‘But the timing was awful. The dangerous thing about mine was that if it’s on your face, it can affect, maybe impair your eyesight.’
