BBC Radio 2's Tony Blackburn, 80, diagnosed with sepsis after battling pneumonia
BBC Radio 2 DJ Tony Blackburn has finally opened up about his terrifying health battle after spending two months in hospital this year.
He had the life-threatening condition as well as pneumonia, which saw him pull out of his popular Sound of the 60s Tour and Radio 2 show earlier this year. When he was first taken ill, he said he had a chest infection. Now, Tony has shared just how series his hospital stay was. The DJ was in fact suffering from sepsis, pneumonia and blood poisoning.
Tony, 80, has said he has only just recovered, after being discharged from hospital in May. He still had to have daily injections upon his return home. According to the NHS, Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.
Tony Blackburn has now recovered and returning to work (Twitter/ @tonyblackburn)
He was diagnosed with life-threatening conditions (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)The I'm A Celebrity star has shared that he didn't realise how unwell he was until his family gathered by his beside in hospital. He had been on tour before and after the pandemic with his music and chat show, confessing he overdid it and became ill. Speaking on BBC Scotland, he said: "I was doing three a week at one time forgetting that I'm now a little bit older, so I ended up in hospital for two months with sepsis and pneumonia and blood poisoning."
Tony added: "And I didn't realise how unwell I was until one day in the hospital my whole family were gathered around the bed. And I thought 'this isn't good'. A couple of weeks ago I went to see my specialist and he said 'you are cured', so that was a nice thing to hear."
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Following his hospital stay, Tony has now returned to his tour but has limited himself to just one show each week. He said: "I haven't been doing the [tour] show for about three months because I was told to rest a little bit. Now I'm back in form and we're selling out. Instead of doing three a week I'm just going to do one a week." Tony has also made his return to Radio 2 after Johnnie Walker filled in for him.
In April, Tony also revealed he would have to reschedule his tour, as he required more treatment than he initially thought. He told his fans: “I wanted to give a little update on my health and let you know that I won't be on the radio or in theatres for a little while yet. The infection I have is requiring more treatment than initially thought and it means I am having to reschedule the Sounds of the 60s Tour for the moment in order to recover fully.
“All tickets booked will be automatically transferred to the new dates and you will be notified of this change by your ticket provider. I am sorry for the disruption and I really am looking forward to getting back on the road with the band.” Tony reassured listeners that he will be back in the radio studio as soon as he safely can be, but it might be a few weeks.
He said: “I hope to be back on the radio as soon as possible but it might be a few weeks before I am able to get back in the studio. As you know, I am passionate about my radio shows and I will be back as quickly as I safely can. I want to thank all of the listeners who have sent their well-wishes and messages of support. I do read them all and it really means a lot."
In May, Tony took to his social media to share that he had spent three weeks in hospital but had returned home. "After three weeks in hospital I have just been discharged and am now at home to have some more treatment by having a daily injection for a few days from a hospital near me," he wrote on social media.
"Thanks to everyone at the Wellington Hospital in London doctors and nurses , for looking after me. After my treatment and a rest I look forward to getting back @BBCRadio2 and @BBCLOCALRADIO to doing what I love doing." He added: "Just want to thank all my friends for your lovely messages, you are all so kind to think about me xx".
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