Television personality Melanie Sykes has given a candid and distressing update on her health, revealing she is now 'two-thirds bald' due to a severe autoimmune condition. The former I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star shared the news in a recent video posted to her Instagram followers.
A Year of Illness and Pain
In her emotional address, Sykes explained she has been unwell for the entirety of 2025. 'I'm not well, as you know, I've been ill all year, I've got an autoimmune condition,' she stated. The condition has led to significant hair loss and persistent, widespread inflammation across her body, leaving her in considerable discomfort. Despite the challenges, she emphasised she is actively 'working on healing.'
Sykes described her current life as a 'very, very, very spiritual existence,' which recently included undertaking a meditation teacher training course. However, her health intervened, forcing her to miss the final two days of the programme. 'I'm in so much pain but I wanted to say hello,' she told her fans, managing to find humour in her situation. 'I'm two-thirds bald, really. Every time I say I'm bald I laugh, I don't know why... Thank god I can laugh.'
PTSD from the TV Industry as a Trigger
This latest health update follows revelations Sykes made earlier in the year. In April 2025, the 55-year-old disclosed on her YouTube channel that she was suffering from heart problems and alopecia, which she directly attributed to PTSD from her time in the TV industry.
She explained that she entered the new year with high energy but was forced to slow down after developing an irregular heartbeat. This coincided with a period of intense media scrutiny when allegations surfaced against TV chef Gino D'Acampo, with whom she co-hosted ITV's Let's Do Lunch with Gino and Mel from 2011 to 2014.
'I developed [the heart problem] during the whole Gino D'Acampo bull**** that happened in the news,' Sykes said. 'And suddenly, the stress levels in my life shot up because I left that industry years ago but it won't leave me alone.' D'Acampo has denied claims of making sexualised comments to female staff.
Life After Broadcasting
Since stepping away from mainstream broadcasting in 2021, Sykes has been open about her neurodivergence, having been diagnosed with ADHD and autism. She channeled her experiences into a 2023 book titled Illuminated: Autism and All The Things I Left Unsaid.
Her current health battle represents a significant new chapter in her ongoing journey, one marked by physical pain and personal resilience as she continues to navigate life in the public eye while managing a serious chronic condition.
