Larry Lamb previously recalled a terrifying health scare after being struck down with a “hellish” illness.
The beloved actor, 77, has been in the business for 40 years and has starred in the likes of EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey.
However, more than 10 years ago, Larry – who is on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh today (May 4) – ended up suffering from a life-threatening illness after a trip to Senegal.
Larry Lamb ‘felt like he was dying’ amid health scars
In 2010, Larry went to Senegal to raise awareness about child poverty. However, it was what came after the trip that had the most devastating effect.
I went into complete physical meltdown.
After returning to the UK, he developed a severe fever that lasted for months.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Larry told MailOnline at the time: “It’s been catastrophic. I’m famous for never being ill. But I went into complete physical meltdown.
“At one point I felt like I was dying. But the real shock was when I realised I couldn’t hear properly.”
‘I didn’t have the strength to do anything’
Larry then revealed that the illness eventually left him deaf in one ear after developing tinnitus.
Looking back on the trip, Larry predicted that his hearing loss infection may have been caused by malaria.
He recalled that he was recommended to take a course of anti-malaria tablets. However, after returning to the UK, he stopped taking them – despite being told he should for eight days.
Three days later though, Larry started to feel ill. He said: “It was like the worst hangover I’d ever had. For a few days I had a fever which caused me to sweat and then cool again. I couldn’t sleep – I didn’t have the strength to do anything.”
Larry diagnosed with hearing loss
After his hospital stay, Larry started noticing strange sounds in his right ear. Recalling the strange “long whining” noises, Larry described them as “if someone had hit me on the head”.
Larry explained: “It was hellish. If I was sitting with two or three friends, it was impossible to follow the conversation. I suddenly understood why people with hearing loss can become isolated.”
Once he had more tests, Larry was diagnosed with hearing loss in his right ear and also mild loss in his left.
Watch Larry on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on Sunday (May 4) at 9:30am on ITV1.
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