HARRY Hill has opened up about a terrifying incident that landed him in hospital as an on-stage stunt with an ironing board went awry.
He broke several ribs during the accident, which he says highlights the risks of live-show stunts as he gets older.
Harry, 59, who is best known for his hit series TV Burp, has been preparing for his 2025 show tour, titled New Bits and Greatest Hits after some time away from the spotlight.
However, the former medical doctor turned successful stand-up comedian, radio and TV host, and film actor revealed in an interview with The Times that while he was rehearsing for the upcoming live shows, he suffered a horrifying injury after falling off an ironing board.
“The live-show stunts are becoming more of a problem as I get older,” he admitted.
“I broke a few ribs falling off an ironing board, and it takes longer to recover these days. But I haven’t got the outwards sign of anything. Put it that way.”
Harry is famed for his comedic skits as the name of his tour suggests he’ll be bringing back some of his greatest hits along with some all new stand-up.
Happily, the tour will still be going ahead after Harry is fully recovered as he describes himself as being “fit as a fiddle” despite his recent accident.
During the interview, Harry also hinted that this tour might be his final hurrah, as he seems to have set his sights on retirement.
Sharing some wisdom from a friend, he explained his decision. “This friend has worked as a GP for 30-odd years, delivered babies, seen their parents retire, get sick, die, the full family GP thing and he said, the time you need money is between 60 and 75 because after 75, if you’re still alive, you’re probably sick,” he said.
Harry continued: “Even if you don’t have anything, your world narrows, you don’t want to go on holiday, you don’t need any new shoes, clothes.
“And I thought, yeah, you’re right … it completely changed my outlook. With me it’s always jam tomorrow. But at 60 there aren’t that many tomorrows.”
The Shark Infested Custard star also revealed his own stint as a doctor before changing careers had profoundly altered his outlook on life.
“As a doctor, I saw these people dying. People that saved all their life for their retirement or people who were fit and doing lots of jogging, and I thought, Christ, there’s not really much you can do about this, apart from not smoking. That’s why I changed professions,” he explained.
Harry now feels he lives life to the fullest, using his daily dog walks as his main exercise to stay healthy.
He added: “The only bad thing you can do for your health is smoke. Everything else, providing it’s in moderation, you can do. Just don’t smoke. And you can trust me. I used to be a doctor.”
Iconic TV presenter and comedian Harry Hill has admitted he's nearing retirement, so let's take a look back at some of the best moments in his career...
Harry Hill’s TV Burb won awards
He found his younger fans with Harry Hill’s Shark Infested Custard
Promoting his musical I Can’t Sing with Simon Cowell was a “weird” career highlight
Harry has had done a number of TV cameos and live shows
His later career has been defined by presenting roles
TYSON FURY got a taste of future heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois while weighed 27 STONE and with just one shoe on.
At the time, Fury had vacated the unified titles he won against Wladimir Klitschko amid a battle with depression and substance abuse.
And he wondered down to watch cousin Hughie spar a 19-year-old Dubois – who was just embarking on his professional debut.
Fury was over TEN STONE his fighting weight at the time and could barely keep his two shoes on when he got in the ring with Dubois.
He told TNT Sports in 2020: “I came down to the gym one random Saturday morning, got the bug to have a little spar and Daniel was sparring with Hughie at the time and a few other lads in the gym.
“I just wanted to have a spar, it’s in me isn’t it, it’s what I do.
“I remember I had no equipment with me, no head guard, no bandages.
“I don’t remember exactly what I was wearing but I remember I had one shoe off and one shoe on, the shoe came off and it was what it was.
“We had a little move around. Big fat 27 stone, I had a move around and it was a pleasure.
“He was only a young man then, I think he had only had one fight then or maybe he hadn’t even had a professional fight.
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“But I found he was a very good fighter, straight away.”
Fury later returned to the ring in what is considered one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time.
He defeated Deontay Wilder, 38, to win the WBC title and reigned for three years until losing to Oleksandr Usyk, 37, in May.
Usyk became the first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion ever but vacated the IBF belt to proceed with his December 21 rematch with Fury.
Dubois, 27, was meanwhile elevated from interim champion and knocked out Anthony Joshua, 34, in his first title defence.
A SHOCKING act of suicide leaves a Walford resident devastated.
Yolande Trueman – played by Angela Wynter – came face to face with her abuser Pastor Gideon Clayton (Howard Saddler) as he tried to manipulate her to drop the rape charges against him in tonight’s episode of EastEnders.
The villain has caused a huge amount of heartache to Walford stalwart and her family after he sexually assaulted her.
Yolande bravely told her family about his sexual abuse towards her, who then encouraged her to report it to the police.
Yolande also encouraged other victims of his to come forward.
Tuesday’s episode saw Pastor Clayton return to Walford, demanding Yolande retract her statement in a tense confrontation.
He blamed her for ruining not only his career as a church pastor, but also his marriage due to her “lies” about him.
He told her to phone the police and say: “Nothing inappropriate happened between us. You were mistaken and I am innocent.”
But Yolande just laughed at him, and told him: “You are trying to manipulate me AGAIN.”
Pastor Clayton said: “All this trial will do is make things worse.”
Yolande replied that “it can’t be worse than this. Better you had killed me.”
She then proceeded to call him a “coward” and demanded he admit what he did.
But their showdown was interrupted by Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega) who walked through the door.
Yolande yelled at Pastor Clayton to “GET OUT” and believed that the next time she will see him is at his trail.
However, she was wrong because soon after the police arrived in the early hours of the morning, with some very unexpected news.
They announced that Pastor Clayton had taken his own life, leaving Yolande incredibly shaken and devastated.
Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock…
As the news sends shockwaves through the square, can Yolande’s family support her during this difficult time?
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
HUNDREDS of users are reporting issues with Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland this morning.
The main issue appears to be with access to online banking, with more than 60 per cent of customers having problems , according to Downdetector.
A further 34 per cent of people have reported problems with logging into mobile banking services, with
Users have also been locked out of mobile banking services at Halifax and Bank of Scotland, according to the website.
In a statement on X, Lloyds Bank said: “We know some customers are having issues with Internet Banking and Mobile Banking. We’re sorry about this and we’re working to have everything back to normal.”
Follow our live blog below for all the latest updates …
A HOTEL located on the English Riviera has been rated among the cheapest places to stay in the UK.
The Trelawney Hotel in Torquay, Devon has earned itself a place on Tripadvisor‘s top 10 cheapest hotels list for offering a room rate of just £58 a night.
Offering “luxury” bed and breakfast accommodation, guests consistently comment on the hotel’s great value and service.
One guest who stayed in June this year wrote on the review website: “Fabulous hotel. Fantastic value for money and only 5 minutes walk down into town.
“Liz and Paul, the owners are very friendly and are very good hosts.”
The hotel is nestled conveniently close to the seafront, just 300m from Torre Abbey Sands.
As the main beach in Torquay, it’s popular with holidaymakers from the surrounding hotels, day visitors and locals with its long sandy shore and great views across to the coastal town of Brixham.
Torre Abbey Meadows is also nearby – a grassy expanse which is perfect for picnics.
The hotel has a variety of rooms on offer, including twin, double, king size, family, and four-poster beds, all of which have en suite bathrooms, colour TVs and complimentary beverage trays.
And alongside good room rates, an ideal location, and comfortable rooms, guests seem to be enamoured with the spotless cleanliness throughout the hotel and its freshly-cooked breakfast.
One guest wrote on Tripadvisor: “The rooms are spotlessly clean and the beds really comfortable…..a real home from home.”
Another said: “No dogs, No dirty stains on the carpets!!
Everything was spotless!”
As part of its extensive breakfast menu, the hotel uses local suppliers where possible, for example, for its free range eggs, bacon and sausages.
Another guest wrote: “Breakfast was delicious. You can opt for as much, or as little as you want and the ordering of breakfast the day before, is a great idea. Definitely would stay again.”
Someone else penned: “A range of cereals , fruit, yoghurts, fresh orange and apple juice, tea and coffee was great, full English breakfast was lovely. I myself really enjoyed the poached eggs.”
One thing in particular that sets Trelawney apart from other hotels is it has an honesty bar, with guests saying they “loved the idea! and it “was a really nice touch”.
As well as being close to a beach, the hotel is ideally located for those who want to explore further afield with the South Devon coastline and Dartmoor National Park.
The English Riviera Conference and Leisure Centre is within 250 metres of the hotel, where you can visit one of its many staged events and swim in its wave machine pool.
Torquay town centre is just a 10 minute walk away from the hotel, with plenty of shops and places to eat.
But if you don’t fancy walking, one guest shared a tip: “A bus runs you into town for just £1.50!”
For Brits looking for a cheap holiday abroad, Marrakesh has been named the best budget Autumn getaway.
It was crowned Most Budget Friendly Autumn Getaway 2024 by DiscoverCars.com.