Freddie Bentley, star of The Only Way Is Essex, has opened up about a terrifying health scare that saw him hospitalised with possible liver failure. The 27-year-old, who joined the show in 2018 after appearing on The Circle, revealed he was rushed to hospital after his father noticed his pupils had turned yellow while on a family holiday in the Dominican Republic.
Speaking exclusively to OK! magazine, Freddie explained that he had been suffering from back pain and nausea for three months before the holiday. On the flight home, his father spotted the yellowing of his eyes, and he was immediately taken to hospital where he was kept for six weeks. Doctors diagnosed him with jaundice and a liver condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), which affects the bile ducts and can eventually require a transplant.
Freddie's liver enzyme levels were dangerously high – 980 U/L compared to a normal level of around 125 U/L. Doctors initially said he needed a transplant, but after exploring alternative treatments including rapid transformational therapy, reflexology and spiritual healing, his liver levels returned to normal. His doctor described it as a 'miracle case'.
Following the scare, Freddie gave up alcohol and recently celebrated three years of sobriety. He shared the milestone in an emotional moment on TOWIE, saying he wanted to show that 'life actually began when I became sober'. He admitted the first year was the hardest, as he grieved his old social life, but now feels comfortable in his own skin and enjoys events without alcohol.
Freddie also revealed that during his hospital stay, he felt judged for being a gay man, with doctors making assumptions about unprotected sex. He described it as the first time he felt 'truly belittled for my sexuality', but said it pushed him to become stronger. He now hopes to use his platform to help others struggling with similar issues.
