Sir David Jason is most famous for portraying Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses as well as his other show Inspector Frost. At the age of 83, Sir David will be making a comeback to TV on the brand new show Touring Toolshed on BBC Two, with Repair Shop host Jay Blades.
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At the age of 83, Jason has had some health issues, which isn’t surprising given his advanced age. However, he doesn’t let that stop him. After taking a small break from TV, he has decided to grace our screens once again.
In 2022, Sir David Jason had a rather scary experience with Covid-19 that left him extremely weak.
Sir David Jason caught Covid-19 in 2022
Sir David Jason opened up about his experience dealing with Covid-19 in July 2022 at the age of 82.
He revealed to BBC Breakfast in October 2022 that he had ‘got it seriously bad’ and was left extremely weak as his ‘muscles weren’t working’.
Because all the muscles weren't working, I collapsed and I fell against the radiator... I was so weak, I couldn't get up.
The Only Fools and Horses star explained that he had tried to use his bed to try to get up but with no success.
I crawled to the bed. The muscles weren't working and I used the bed to try and stand up so that I could go to where I wanted to get, and also get back into bed, and I couldn't…
I tried for about a quarter of an hour, trying all sorts of things to stand up so I could walk about.
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Sir David Jason had to crawl to move
In the end, Jason realised he would not be able to get up or reach the door to get his wife to help as his 'arms wouldn't work and my legs wouldn't work’.
Eventually, Sir David realised the only way he would be able to move would be to crawl on the floor. However, since he couldn’t move his arms and legs, he had to use his face to drag himself along the floor.
Trying to make light of the situation, the actor compared himself to a walrus to illustrate how the scene played out:
You know when you see a walrus if you watch David Attenborough, and they walk on land, they crawl on land? That's what I did.
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But in order to do that, I had to use my head. So now I'm lying face down on the ground, and in order to get to the door. I was using my head to drag me to the door.
Eventually, his wife entered the room and was able to help him. But Sir David did end up suffering from carpet burns down his face and neck, as reported by Express.
Sources used:
BBC: ‘Sir David Jason describes Covid collapse’
Express: ‘Sir David Jason's 'seriously bad' illness that led him to feel 'so weak'