ITV The Chase's Paul Sinha opens up on Parkinson battle in candid health update (2025)

The Chase star Paul Sinha, known as The Sinnerman, was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2019

Paul Sinha, famed as The Sinnerman on ITV's popular quiz show The Chase, has shared an update on his ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease.

Diagnosed with the progressive neurological condition in 2019, Paul appeared on the Thursday (April 17) episode of Loose Women to discuss the unexpected symptoms that led up to his diagnosis.

He recounted how he initially presented with a stiff and painful right shoulder one morning, mistakenly believing it would resolve itself. "Everyone thinks you shake. I presented one morning with a stiff painful right shoulder. I didn't think anything of it, I thought 'this is going to go away' and it never went away," he said.

After enduring a year of treatments including injections, x-rays, scans, and even surgery in January 2019, there was no improvement. He described his frozen shoulder symptom as 'not exactly rare and not exactly that common'.

During a frightening experience at a comedy festival in New Zealand in May 2019, Paul noticed he started to limp and felt an ominous sense of dread. It was then, in a taxi, that he searched for 'Parkinson's and Frozen Shoulder' online, which gave him the 'fright of his life', reports the Manchester Evening News.

Paul also spoke about his approach to being a patient, saying: "I've always tried to be a perfect patient. I don't want a doctor to miss out on something because they assume you know it. I always tired to be a patient who knows nothing..."

He expressed relief upon visiting the neurologist, hoping his condition wouldn't be motor neurone disease or another rapidly progressing illness. He said: "It was a relief... when I went to the neurologist I thought please 'don't let it be motor neurone disease or something with a faster decline'."

After being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, public figure Paul shared his perspective on facing life with the condition. He reflected: "Being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, it gave me a diagnosis that I know I have time to do the bucket list things, oddly enough I don't have a bucket list. I did go to Brazil last year on holiday and that was a big one."

Paul noted that despite his diagnosis, there has been no 'major change' in his everyday schedule and even mentioned feeling fortunate for not being tied down to a 'nine to five' job. This freedom allows him to adapt his daily activities based on his needs, as he pointed out: "I can plan my schedule each day around what I'm doing. I try make sure I'm well rested in the afternoon so I can have an early night."

On managing his sleep routine, Paul stated: "You facilitate your sleep around your schedule. I think it's important to be proactive and knowing about the whole thing."

The online world continues to hold a place in Paul's routine, especially with a timed intellectual game, which he ensures to prepare for by saying: "I do an online speed quiz at 6pm, that's the one thing I always find time for. It does mean I take my second tablet of the day an hour before so my speed is good."

When questioned about potential concerns regarding the progression of his Parkinson's, Paul openly admitted that it's a constant thought due to the nature of his profession.

He said: "As I become physically disabled I can still do The Chase and stand up comedy. If I become more cognitively disabled those things become out of the question for me."

Confronting some daily challenges, such as 'slowness', Paul expressed gratitude towards his supportive spouse Oliver Leery. Sharing a personal example, he remarked: "I now have to sit down on the bed to put my trousers on.

"I'm lucky enough to have a very devoted husband and he makes sure I look hot when I'm on TV," a comment which drew cheers from those listening.

Loose Woman airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV and ITVX and The Chase airs from 5pm on ITV and ITVX