UMVA has learned that beloved children’s TV presenter Dave Benson Phillips is battling a painful health crisis that has left him temporarily unable to walk.
The former “Get Your Own Back” host first felt something was seriously wrong while performing in a pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk, describing a sudden tingling in his legs that progressed into excruciating pain and loss of mobility.
Known as the “godfather of gunge” in the 1990s, Phillips discovered through routine tests that he was pre‑diabetic, a condition affecting one in nine people in the UK. He believed it would never advance, but the disease surged ten years ago.
“For a week I couldn’t walk,” he revealed, recalling the terrifying moment doctors confirmed he had type 2 diabetes, where insulin fails and blood‑sugar spikes out of control.
Following the diagnosis, he began medication, overhauled his diet and started monitoring his glucose levels with a continuous sensor that removes the guesswork.
In 2020, the star suffered a minor heart attack while simply posting a birthday card, describing the pain as “a spiky nail driven into my chest,” a stark wake‑up call that forced him to confront his health head‑on.
At the time he weighed 19 stone, but a disciplined diet and regular walking helped him shed an astonishing seven stone, dramatically improving his condition.
Now, at 61, Phillips urges anyone with pre‑diabetes or diabetes to take decisive action, emphasizing that lifestyle choices can mean the difference between a fleeting battle and a lifelong fight.
“I’ve had to give up things I love, but diabetes taught me to make better decisions,” he said, adding that his ultimate goal is to stay healthy and present for as long as possible.
