Celebrity chef Matt Tebbutt, best known for presenting BBC's Saturday Kitchen, has shared a harrowing account of a sudden health crisis that left him completely immobilised.
The 50-year-old television personality revealed he was struck down by a severe case of shingles that progressed into a neurological condition called transverse myelitis, causing temporary paralysis.
A Chef's Worst Nightmare
'I woke up one morning and literally couldn't walk,' Tebbutt confessed. 'The pain was excruciating - like nothing I'd ever experienced before.'
The condition, which causes inflammation of the spinal cord, left the normally active chef bedridden for weeks. 'There were genuine moments when I thought I might never work again,' he admitted.
The Road to Recovery
After intensive treatment including steroids and physiotherapy, Tebbutt has made significant progress. 'I'm not 100% yet, but I can walk unaided now which feels like a miracle,' he said.
The chef praised the NHS staff who treated him, calling them 'absolute angels'. He's now using his platform to raise awareness about the condition that nearly ended his career.
Back in the Kitchen
Fans will be relieved to hear Tebbutt has returned to filming Saturday Kitchen, though he admits to taking things slower. 'I've learned to listen to my body - something I never did before this happened.'
His experience serves as a stark reminder that health crises can strike anyone, even busy TV personalities at the peak of their careers.
