Alan Carr has opened up about a frightening “health scare” and his fears that he is losing his sight.
The 48-year-old comedian underwent a procedure where his eyeballs were drained at a specialist eye hospital, involving a “spike” being inserted into his eyeball under anaesthetic.
Describing the ordeal as “surreal” the popular stand-up and television presenter admitted he was “so worried” during the experience, the Mirror reports.
On his podcast, Life’s a Beach, Carr shared with guest Grace Campbell: “I’ve got astigmatism – I kept telling people I had stigmata, like the wounds of Christ. Get over yourself, Alan.
“I had a bit of a health scare. I went to Moorfields [Eye Hospital, London]. I’ve got something wrong with my eyes – quite a bit of pressure. I hate the glaucoma thing, when they squirt the air in your eyes. I had something wrong with my eyes in the cornea. I was so worried.”
He continued: “He had to basically choke me because this air going into my eye was too much. At Moorfields they anaesthetised my eyeball, and then the spike came in on to the lens to see if it worked.
“They said: ‘Just relax Alan, and just concentrate on the spike going into your eye.’ I’m like excuse me? What? Oh good, the spike is coming closer. Relax! It was so surreal. Losing my sight is my worst thing, and I can feel it getting worse.”
“My eyeballs need draining – they’ve got too much pressure.”
In a statement last November, Alan Carr expressed his astonishment at the renewal of his TV show for two additional series, calling it “utterly mind-blowing” and a “huge compliment”.
The comedian’s semi-autobiographical sitcom, Changing Ends, which premiered on ITVX and later aired on ITV, has been a hit since its launch.
Following the success of the first series and a subsequent second series earlier in 2024, it was confirmed that the beloved show would return for a third and fourth series, each comprising six episodes to be filmed consecutively.
While fans eagerly await the release dates for the new series, they can revel in the fact that Changing Ends draws inspiration from Alan’s own experiences growing up in Northampton during the 1980s as the son of ex-fourth division football manager Graham Carr.
The show features Oliver Savell portraying a young Alan, with a supporting cast that includes Shaun Dooley, Nancy Sullivan, and Taylor Fay (Gary Carr) as family members. Additional talent such as Gabby Best, Harry Peacock, and Rourke Mooney also grace the screen.
Alan, who contributes as a writer and plays ‘himself’ in the series, shared his gratitude for the recommission, stating: “To get your own sitcom recommissioned for a series is the most wonderful news ever, but to have TWO series recommissioned is utterly mind-blowing and such a huge compliment which I do not take lightly.”
Alan went on to say: “I know how much this show has resonated with the viewers and I promise I won’t let you down, and for someone whose actual life at times feels like a sitcom, believe me there are more tales from my childhood to be told.
“Two series commissioned eh? My dream of Changing Ends becoming Northampton’s answer to the Crown becomes two steps closer to being a reality.”
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