STRICTLY legend Russell Grant has undergone five-hour surgery to have a brain tumour removed – and it has saved his eyesight.
The 71-year-old astrologer went under the knife to have a lump taken out of his pituitary gland, and now he isn’t allowed to blow his nose or sneeze for six months to avoid disturbing the area.
Russell Grant has undergone five hour surgery to remove a tumour
The star is well-loved for his time on Strictly
He also cannot travel for half a year as part of his post-op recovery.
Russell said: “I am now on the road to recovery. There are a few complications to sort out so the post-op stuff has already started.”
The star admitted next on his operation “to do list” is to get his knee done.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “As you know I saw something pretty major coming when giving my lecture in Blackpool on December 1, 2019, so I was prepared.
“I didn’t shout about the growth as I’d been waiting for a knee operation which was due Easter 2020, so many of you would have presumed I was going in for that.
“COVID ruined that. So it’s next on my list of ‘Things to do’.”
Russell finished eighth on the ninth series of ‘Strictly’ in 2011, but his time on the Latin and ballroom show was hampered by a knee issue.
After rumours that Russell might exit the show early because of the injury, it was confirmed he would postpone any surgery until after the show.
A spokeswoman for Strictly Come Dancing said in November 2011: “Russell has decided he wants to postpone his procedure until Strictly has finished.”
