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Wales Online
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The Chase's Paul Sinha forced to give up vital part of career due to health struggle
The Chase's Paul Sinha forced to give up vital part of career due to health struggle The Chase star and comedian Paul Sinha has opened up about his struggle with Parkinson's disease, revealing that he has been forced to give up a key part of his career Paul Sinah, known as the Sinnerman on ITV's popular quiz show, The Chase (Image: ITV ) Paul Sinha, known for his role on ITV's The Chase, ventured into stand-up comedy while working as a junior doctor, yet his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease has made his participation in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival increasingly difficult. In 2019, after noticing his limp growing worse on one side, Paul was diagnosed with Parkinson's, a progressive neurological condition that gradually impairs parts of the brain. Symptoms include tremors, balance complications, sleep disturbances, psychosis, and emotional fluctuations. There is currently no cure for the neurological condition, and Paul Sinha, also known as The Sinnerman on The Chase, has opened up about living with Parkinson's and how it has impacted his life. Having been a dedicated attendee of the festival, revelling what he called the "exercise in masochism" of enduring multiple shows in compact, crowded spaces, Paul now faces significant challenges. Speaking to Tim Lihoreau on the Guess Who's Coming to Dinner podcast, Paul, who turned 55 on Wednesday, admitted: "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 further said: "The rooms at the Edinburgh Festival are really hot, the performing rooms, and I find it hard." Paul went on to discuss his reluctance to leave the festival prematurely, saying: "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.", reports Bristol Live. "You've got to be genuinely suffering to a degree to feel that you're part of the gang." For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter Previously, Paul has candidly spoken about how early warning signs of his disease were overlooked. His friends in the medical field initially failed to spot his symptoms, but it was during a follow-up consultation that the extent of his illness came to light. Recapping his experience to The Sun, Paul relays a notable comment 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'," observing that certain gestures he made were symptomatic. The renowned quizzer emphasised that while tremors are commonly associated with Parkinson's, there is less awareness about other symptoms. He mentioned diminished sense of smell as one of the first potential indications that could arise well before the more obvious tremors. He also cited nerve pain, issues with urination, and memory lapses as potential early warning signs of the disease. On Loose Women, Paul discussed another symptom: a lingering shoulder problem that hinted at his condition: "I presented one morning with a stiff, painful right shoulder. I never had a stiff joint before," he explained. "I didn't think anything of it, I thought, 'this is just going to go away,' and then it just never went away." Paul makes a concerted effort to preserve his mental sharpness through daily brain exercises. One of his go-to activities is participating in Tea Time Trivia, an online quickfire quiz at 6pm, emphasising the significance of this routine by saying: "It's something that's always on your mind because my brain is my tool," he said. "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." Article continues below
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
ITV The Chase Paul Singha's health battle which has made comedy career 'harder'
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."
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Every success for me and this play is another chance to show working-class people that their voices matter'
Gina Donnelly's Anthem For Dissatisfaction, commissioned by Brassneck Theatre Company, premiered at Féile an Phobail, has been invited to the Irish Cultural Centre in London, and will be going to this year's Edinburgh Festival.
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
So the Edinburgh Festival's future is under threat. Really?
Money is usually at the heart of it, in two areas specifically. First, funding and support for the arts at governmental and council level. Second the costs associated with coming to Edinburgh in August either as performer or punter. The major complaint on that front is the soaring price of accommodation, the result in part of an ugly tendency among private landlords in the capital for (let's call it what it is) naked profiteering. The pernicious effect of American online rental behemoth Airbnb and other companies like it doesn't help either. In Edinburgh, their presence has helped industrialize the hollowing out of the city centre, a process which has paved the way for sky-high August prices. At the same time, the council now requires those who may only let out a room or sub-let while on holiday to apply for a licence (and possibly also planning permission). This has taken some accommodation out of the market, which affects supply. Airbnb says it hasn't prevented rising costs, nevertheless the company is among those lobbying hard for its repeal. There may be a shortage of money for the Arts but there is always plenty of 'street theatre' (Image: free) Meanwhile a year-round 5% visitor levy, or tourist tax, is due to be introduced in time for the 2026 Edinburgh Festival, though it remains to be seen how much (if any) of the mooted £50 million windfall will be sent in the direction of the August festivals, or used to address their various infrastructure needs. The most vocal complainant and advocate for change and improvement tends to be the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, which runs the Fringe, the biggest player in Edinburgh's portfolio of summer festivals. In April newly-appointed chief executive Tony Lankester told The Herald: 'When discussions are happening on the visitor levy, the Fringe's voice is really important. We are not looking to the visitor levy as a way of feathering our nest or benefiting hugely financially from it. We might make an ask for certain projects, such as around our street events, but by and large our seat at the table will be to lobby for investment in the kind.' Ahead of the launch of the 2025 Fringe programme, others have voiced similar concerns about the pressures facing the Edinburgh Festival and the Fringe in particular – and in more strident terms. 'We have to do something to bring the cost of accommodation down,' says Anthony Alderson, director of the Pleasance Theatre Trust. 'By having made it so expensive to be here during August, for visitors and performers alike, we are slowly killing the Fringe.' On the other hand, the Fringe has now moved into a new home, something it has long campaigned for. It has seen its funding boosted. And earlier this month it announced that this year's event was on track to be the third largest in history. Meanwhile the Edinburgh International Book Festival is settling into its new home in the über-swanky Futures Institute, and the Edinburgh International Film Festival goes from strength to strength (though admittedly it started from a pretty low base). So are things as black as they are painted? Yes and no, which is another Edinburgh Festival tradition – everything's terrible until August rolls around, at which point everything's brilliant. Read more Birthday presence Everywhere you turn these days somebody, somewhere is celebrating the anniversary of something or other. Big or small, niche or mainstream, well-planned or half-arsed, it's coming at you. Last year we had Edinburgh 900, a rather lacklustre effort to commemorate 900 years since King David I created the royal burgh in which the capital sits. In January, Glasgow 850 launched, a rather more muscular and imaginative affair aimed at celebrating 850 years of the Dear Green Place. One of its key events, the three-day music festival Clyde Chorus, kicks off on Thursday. Back in the capital, 2026 will see the 200th anniversary of the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA), which is both building and organisation. It's also, some might argue, something close to a state of mind for its members, the Academicians. The Royal Scottish Academy will be 200 years old next year (Image: Gordon Terris) As befits an august institution which continues to move with the times, the anniversary celebrations unveiled this week are ambitious and, importantly, take the RSA out of its gilded stone palace on the Mound and into venues across Scotland, such as Shetland, Skye, Aberdeen and Berwick-upon-Tweed – a cheeky act of cultural colonisation given that it's actually in England. But if none of that grabs you, I'm sure there will be another anniversary along behind it. Orkney's St Magnus Festival turns 50 next year and Glasgow's Kelvin Hall notches up its centenary in 2027. You can bet that somebody, somewhere already has a spreadsheet open – or a pencil over the back of a fag packet. Read more And finally The Herald's dance critic Mary Brennan continues her trawl through the best of the Dance International Glasgow mini-festival at Tramway with reviews of The Violet Hour, and Dance Is Not For Us and Bottoms, a double bill. The first is a new work by Scottish dancer and choreographer Colette Sadler, a multi-media piece built around three dancers and nodding to Greek myth. Dance Is Not For Us is solo show by Lebanese dancer Omar Rajeh while Bottoms, by migrant and disabled-led performance company Two Destination Language, brings five dancers to the stage – and a little mooning, which is what gives the piece its title. Elsewhere theatre critic Neil Cooper was at the King's Theatre in Glasgow for a touring production of satirical musical The Book Of Mormon and at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh for something completely different – Sylvia Dow's Blinded By The Light, which tells (and reflects upon) the story of the 1982 sit-in at Kinneil Colliery in Bo'ness. Finally music critic Keith Bruce was at St John's Kirk in Perth for a Perth Festival of the Arts performance by the 18-strong Ora Singers of unaccompanied vocals works ranging from Renaissance polyphony to Sir James MacMillan's Misere. Read our reviews
Scotsman
14-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Launch date and scale of Edinburgh electric bike hire scheme revealed
Up to 200 rental bikes in city centre to kick off two-year pilot Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A new electric bike hire scheme should be in place in time for this year's Edinburgh Festival in August, city councillors have revealed. Some 100-200 cycles would be available in the city centre at the start of a planned two-year trial, which would be at not cost to the City of Edinburgh Council. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Just Eat Cycles added electric bikes to its Edinburgh scheme in 2020 | Transport for Edinburgh/Serco That could be extended to 600-800 bikes across a wider area of the city after the first months of the pilot, which comes four years after the previous Just East Cycles scheme collapsed. The city council also announced on Tuesday that the speed of the bikes would be automatically restricted to below their normal 15.5mph limit in areas with high numbers of pedestrians. Councillors will next week be recommended to give the go ahead to a competition between cycle hire firms Dott, Lime and other companies to chose the operator, which would bear the costs of the scheme. Dott runs a scheme in Bath, which, like Edinburgh, is a world heritage site, while Lime operates in cities including London. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A city council spokesperson said: 'We are hopeful of it being in place, even if it's a diluted version of the overall scheme, prior to the Festival.' Transport convener Stephen Jenkinson, who pledged in December to launch a scheme in the summer, said: 'It's reasonable to have a trial predominantly focused in the city centre to prove the demand is there before expanding it out. 'If the demand is there, I can certainly see the scheme expanding, with the coverage moving across much of Edinburgh.' Previous scheme was hit by vandalism and theft, and cost £1.5m a year The Just Eat Cycles scheme was launched in 2018 and soon became very popular, with annual hires doubling to 250,000 by its second year and it was expanded as far as Musselburgh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, it suffered from significant vandalism and theft, and was ended by the council in 2021 amid costs of £1.5 million a year. Mr Jenkinson said: 'One of the advantages of a newer form of this scheme is the technology has advanced to such an extent that the service can flex quite quickly. 'If there are areas that either we or the provider are uncomfortable with, that can be discussed and managed. 'We can control not only the locations where the bikes can be picked up and dropped off but also the speed with which the bikes can be used in different parts of the town. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You might allow a bike to go a certain speed in a certain part of town, but in other, more pedestrian areas, you might want to govern the speed at which the cycles can travel from a safety point of view. 'We have a level of control that previously wasn't technically possible.' Mr Jenkinson said concerns about the speed of other riders in pedestrian areas, such as delivery cyclists on electric bikes, was a matter for the police rather than the council.
