When the 58-year-old became mysteriously unwell last year, doctors were forced to rule out tumours.
“I’m very lucky in that I’ve been very healthy all my life. Every morning I’ve woken up feeling as I did aged 20. But last autumn I woke up feeling absolutely terrible,” he said.
RICHARD AND JUDY: SEX IS VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR MARRIAGE
"I was afflicted for about 24 hours at a time with a really unpleasant flu-like illness – aching, throbbing, lights before my eyes.
“At Christmas I realised I had to get it checked out. They did some blood tests but still couldn’t figure it out and thought I might have some primary tumours causing my immune system to break down.
“So I then had a full body scan which, though nerve-racking, showed I had no tumours. What it did find was a little bit of fluid on the lung.
MARVIN AND ROCHELLE HUMES TAKE OVER THIS MORNING SOFA
After years of never being unwell, Richard discovered he was suffering from pneumonia, a treatable but sometimes fatal illness.
“I saw a consultant and it turns out I’d had low-level pneumonia for about six months which kept coming back. In the end I saw it off.”
Now, the former This Morning presenter takes care of his health and watches his diet.
“My father died of a heart attack so I am quite careful in watching what I eat. I probably drink too much... but I don’t drink spirits.”