Gogglebox star Shaun Malone has given fans a raw update from hospital after undergoing brain surgery, posting an image of his head covered in staples. The 31-year-old, known for appearing on Channel 4's hit show with his family since 2014, has been open about his long-standing health battles.
Heatwave Makes Recovery Tough
Sharing the photo on Instagram, Malone wrote: "Heatwave is a terrible time to be stuck in hospital until Friday. Brain surgery is deffo not the highlight of my year." The post shows prominent staples running across his scalp, a visible mark of the procedure.
A Decade of Health Struggles
Malone's medical history dates back to 2010 when he developed sinusitis that led to a life-threatening brain infection. The infection caused his brain to swell, and his skull began crushing it. His mother rushed him to A&E, but doctors initially dismissed it as sinusitis. He later collapsed at home and fell into a coma.
Speaking on the Coaching From The Sofa podcast, Malone revealed: "They said to my mum and dad that I had a less than 10 per cent chance of living. I was in a coma for a few weeks – and they said to my mum and dad, 'Shaun's got brain damage, we don't know what the brain damage is or how it'll affect him.'"
Life After the Coma
When he woke up, Malone faced significant challenges. He explained: "My brain damage affected me in some ways, like my memory but mostly the way it affected me was with my left side. I essentially had a stroke, I couldn't move my left arm, my left leg, even the left side of my face." He had to relearn how to walk.
The Malone Family's Ordeal
His mother Julie recounted the traumatic experience to the Mirror last year: "We were absolutely frantic. The doctor said Shaun only had a slim chance of surviving surgery, that there were no beds available. Tom said I just went doolally saying, 'He's going to be fine, he's going to be fine'. Thankfully Tom was level-headed and really pushed them."
Once a bed was found, Shaun underwent six hours of surgery to remove a piece of his skull to relieve swelling. He remained in a coma for two weeks.
Gogglebox Favourite
Despite these health battles, Shaun has been a beloved fixture on Gogglebox since series four, appearing alongside his father Tom, mother Julie, and siblings Tom Jr and Vanessa. The family has remained a constant on the show, winning over audiences with their witty commentary.
