Janet Street-Porter has urged people to see if they are eligible for the shingles vaccine after being struck down by the "debilitating" illness.
The Loose Women star, 76, appeared on Good Morning Britain to urge people to get the jab if they can because getting shingles was a “ghastly experience”.
Janet revealed how she was sent home from Loose Women after an outbreak of the virus in 2012 – but she explained how she first suffered with the illness while in her 40s.
She recalled how she did not know she had the virus at first – thinking the rash on her body was an eczema flare-up. Janet was later diagnosed with shingles, saying she was ‘very stressed’ at the time.
Stress can trigger the virus and although you cannot give shingles to another person, others can catch chickenpox from you if they haven't had it before.
Issuing her plea to GMB viewers, Janet said: "I would say to people at home if you're eligible in either of those categories, you're over 65 after September 1st or you're aged between 70 and 79, which I am, for goodness sake go and get the shingles vaccine because you certainly do not want to run the risk of getting it.
"And there's a single website [getshinglesready.co.uk] so go on the shingles website and see if you are eligible because one of the debilitating side effects is the nerve pain.
“The scabs will go, you won't be like a tree trunk that snaps in half, but the scabs could be down your face, it would be a ghastly experience and could affect your eyes."
Eligibility for the vaccine has been widened but Janet revealed she was campaigning to expand it further for vulnerable people over 50. Dr Amir Khan joined GMB to share his expert view on Janet's campaign.
He said: "It's a really debilitating illness and the vaccine reduces your risk of getting shingles and if you do get shingles it can reduce the severity and length of the symptoms as well."
It comes after Janet recently left fans concerned as she told of a scary encounter while out on a walk by herself – when a man in a car started hurling abuse at her.
She tweeted: "I went for a quiet walk by the sea in Kent this afternoon. A car suddenly drove up behind me, the man behind the wheel screamed I HATE YOU, WE ALL HATE YOU, YOU ARE STUPID and when I tried walk away he turned round and spat out YOU WILL GO DOWN. He's driving a grey Golf."
Meanwhile, last month, Janet described herself as a "diva" as she revealed her numerous on-set demands at Loose Women. She shared that she liked having special treatment behind-the-scenes on the ITV show – including joining meetings remotely and having a long list of items on her rider.
She told The Daily Star: "They call me a diva. I’ve got my own list of requirements in my dressing room. I like Redbush tea bags, I like heated rollers on, I don’t want to talk to anyone really. Unfortunately I do have to!"
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