Gogglebox fans were left reeling this week as Shaun Malone revealed he's been through the wringer – literally! – after undergoing brain surgery. The Channel 4 favourite, who has become an institution on the sofa alongside his family since 2014, shared a snap of himself looking decidedly worse for wear, complete with stitches galore.
Typically, Shaun was in good spirits despite being stuck in hospital during the heatwave, quipping, "Heatwave is a terrible time to be stuck in hospital until Friday!" – because when life gives you lemons, make lemonade and all that. But in his next breath, he confessed, "Brain surgery is deffo not the highlight of my year" – no kidding, mate!
This latest medical procedure follows a near-death experience 12 years ago, when Shaun was given just a 10% chance of survival after suffering severe brain damage from an infection. The road to recovery was long and arduous, with docs warning him of lasting effects that would be akin to the aftermath of a stroke – not ideal news for anyone.
However, against all odds, Shaun's fighting spirit has seen him bounce back, albeit with some lingering challenges. He's had to adapt to life with impaired memory and mobility issues on his left side – think stroke, minus the glamour! But despite these setbacks, he remains an integral part of the Gogglebox family, which has captured our hearts for over a decade.
The Malone clan may have finished their latest stint on the show, but we're sending all our best wishes to Shaun as he recovers from his surgery. Let's hope it's just the start of another comeback story – and not one that requires too many stitches!