ITV Good Morning Britain viewers saddened as The Bill actor Chris Ellison struggles during interview on aphasia
05.04.2022 - 13:11
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Good Morning Britain viewers were left saddened as they heard about Chris Ellison's battle with aphasia - a condition which recently saw Bruce Willis quit acting after he received a diagnosis.
The Bill actor, best known for playing DCI Frank Burnside on the hit show, appeared on the programme alongside his wife Anita as they appeared live via video link from their home to speak to Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway.
It was also Chris' first TV appearance since revealing his own aphasia battle - a language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension, leaving a person unable to communicate effectively with others.
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He diagnosed with t he condition after a severe stroke in the summer of 2020. Anita, Chris' wife of 42 years found him on their bedroom floor at their Brighton home but an ambulance crew struggled to move him down their narrow spiral staircase so took him through a roof skylight before he was airlifted to hospital.
While medics were unable to remove the blood clot safely, Chris survived and was moved to a rehab centre within just a couple of weeks where he had to learn to walk and feed himself again. It is in the rehab centre that he was diagnosed with aphasia.
GMB host Richard asked the 75-year-old if he felt better now that people knew about his struggle. He said: "Chris, I know you're happy to try and answer some questions with quite simple yes or no answers..." to which Chris replied: "Yes."
"Good. Let's give that a go," Richard said before asking if he felt 'better about himself'. Chris began to answer, telling the hosts: "Well,