ITV The Chase Paul Singha's health battle which has made comedy career 'harder'

Daily Record

30-05-2025

Paul Sinha, who is known as The Sinnerman, often performed stand-up comedy at Edinburgh Fringe Festival but has been forced to give up a vital part of his career.
The Chase star Paul Sinha is most notably known as The Sinnerman on the popular ITV quiz show. However aside from being a brain genius, he is also known for dabbling in stand-up comedy. He juggled his comic flair with his job as a junior doctor before his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2019, which has since made it tough for him to participate in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, an integral event for comedians held in Scotland.
While he used to be an enthusiastic participant at the festival, enjoying what he dubbed an "exercise in masochism" by engaging with a number of shows in tight and crowded spaces, it now proves to be a struggle eports Bristol Live. On Tim Lihoreau's Guess Who's Coming to Dinner podcast, Paul, who turned 55 on Wednesday, expressed: "I now find with my health not being what it was, and my general energy levels, I find it a lot harder – not least the heat."
‌
He elaborated on the conditions at the festival by saying: "The rooms at the Edinburgh Festival are really hot, the performing rooms, and I find it hard."
‌
Paul then reflected on how departing the festival prematurely would alienate him, admitting: "I don't think I could ever go to Edinburgh and leave early, because I just wouldn't feel like I was part of the gang." He added: "You've got to be genuinely suffering to a degree to feel that you're part of the gang."
His Parkinson's symptoms first called for medical attention when he noticed his right limp becoming increasingly worse. The condition is characterised as a progressive neurological disorder that incrementally impairs sections of the brain, resulting in issues such as shaking, balance difficulties, sleep disruptions, psychotic episodes, and emotional fluctuations.
‌
Currently, there is no definitive treatment for the disease. The Chase's beloved quiz genius Paul, has been candid about his Parkinson's diagnosis and the signs that were initially overlooked.
Despite having colleagues in medicine observe early signs of the illness, it took a while before he received an accurate diagnosis. In recounting his journey to The Sun, Paul shared a telling quote from his consultant: "I went to see him and he said, 'I've just been watching you on Taskmaster, I wish I'd known. I would have diagnosed you far quicker'," pointing out specific movements that signalled the condition.
‌
The quizzing champion underscored that although tremors are a common symptom associated with Parkinson's, the wider public might not be aware of the other effects.
He noted that anosmia or loss of smell can be amongst the initial signs, potentially occurring years prior to other more recognisable symptoms. He also highlighted that other early warning signs may include neuropathic pain, difficulties with urination, and cognitive challenges.
‌
During a segment on Loose Women, Paul discussed how a persistent shoulder problem hinted at the underlying condition: "I presented one morning with a stiff, painful right shoulder. I never had a stiff joint before," he said. "I didn't think anything of it, I thought, 'this is just going to go away,' and then it just never went away."
Committed to preserving his sharp mind, Paul partakes in daily brain workouts. He participates in Tea Time Trivia, an online speed quiz at 6pm, and underlines the significance of this habit: "It's something that's always on your mind because my brain is my tool," he said.
He then highlighted a pragmatic outlook regarding his capacity to work, saying, "If I become more physically disabled, I'll still be able to do The Chase and I'll still be able to do stand-up comedy."