The Chase’s Paul Sinha was ‘relieved’ at Parkinson’s diagnosis: ‘Now I know what it is, I can own it’

Paul Sinha opened up on living with Parkinson’s (Picture: Getty; Rex Shutterstock)

Paul Sinha has revealed that he felt ‘relief’ after receiving his diagnosis of Parkinson’s as he was able to ‘own’ it. 

The Chase star, 51, who is known as The Sinnerman on the show, was diagnosed with the progressive neurological disease in 2019, the same year he got married and became British Quiz Champion Of The Year.

He told 5 News: ‘There was a slight sense of relief that I could get on with my life because I knew that something was going horribly wrong, and it was more a relief of “now that I know what it is, I can sort of own it.”’

Paul revealed that the diagnosis gave him a new drive not to waste any time, adding: ‘Before the diagnosis I was trundling along, now there’s a sense of urgency to just get things done.

‘There is more a sense of don’t waste your time, don’t do things that you don’t enjoy, don’t listen to music that you don’t like, there’s more of an urgency to it.’

Paul added that his positive attitude towards the illness, which usually worsens over time, is out of ‘pragmatism’. 

The Chase star felt ‘relief’ at his diagnosis (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

He explained: ‘It’s not an act of courage, it’s an act of pragmatism. If you’ve got a disease process, you are going to live a better life if you treat it with good spirits rather than bad.

‘The better your mental health, the more fit you are to deal with what the physical side throws at you.

‘Things will get worse but I don’t know when they’ll get worse, and therefore I deal with things on a day-to-day situation and my day-to-day situation is I’m not that physically disabled that I can’t get on with my life.’

Paul also revealed that he does not have a bucket list, adding: ‘I’ve been to all the places that I really want to go, and I have done the things that I really want to do.

More: The Chase

‘For me now, it’s more, in a broader sense, enjoying life, embracing life and enjoying the company of great people.’

Listen to the full interview with Sian Williams on 5 News on Channel 5.

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