Lloyd Griffith, who plays Detective Senior Constable Colin Cartwright in the BBC's Death in Paradise spin-off Return to Paradise, has shared a health update revealing he now wears a hearing aid after going deaf in his right ear. The 43-year-old comedian and actor took to social media to post photographs of the device and discuss his condition with followers.
In his caption, he thanked fans for their support, writing: "Thank you for all your kind words about me losing my hearing in my right ear. Will do a long video soon explaining everything (the hearing loss, the diagnosis, the treatment, the constant tinnitus). But as a result of losing my hearing, I now wear a hearing aid on my right ear."
Admitting the adjustment has taken time, he added: "Still getting used to it but we're fast becoming friends."
Diagnosis and Treatment
Griffith experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss in October 2025 while attending a wedding. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, he described the moment as a total shock, saying: "It just went within an hour." He compared the sensation to being on a "trampoline in a storm".
A friend at the wedding, who is a doctor, advised him to go to hospital immediately, where he was diagnosed with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). Hospital staff used intensive steroid treatments and steroid injections in an attempt to save his hearing, as SSHL can sometimes be reversed if caught early enough.
Unfortunately, the efforts proved unsuccessful, leaving him permanently deaf in that ear with constant tinnitus.
On-Screen Representation
Griffith used his platform to encourage others to seek support, advising followers to visit the RNID for more information about sudden hearing loss and support for anyone who is deaf, has hearing loss, or tinnitus.
His BBC bosses on Return to Paradise were understanding about his condition and decided his character would also wear a hearing aid, rather than hiding it or creating a dramatic plotline around it. Griffith praised the decision, noting it was a wonderful opportunity to challenge the stigma surrounding hearing aids and offer visible representation on television.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast ahead of the drama's third series beginning on November 6, he said: "So I now have a hearing aid; I'm completely deaf in my right ear. Then the show's creators said, 'Well, let's just give Colin a hearing aid', and the BBC were like, it would be great if you could wear it as well because it's all about visibility and making sure that people just feel seen by someone wearing hearing aids."
He continued: "There still is a stigma with someone wearing a hearing aid, especially someone as young as me... That element of inclusivity, it's lovely to be able to wear it and be seen wearing it and be able to talk about it on shows like this."
