August 18th 2024.
Paul Sinha, one of the beloved stars of ITV's The Chase, recently opened up about some of his career regrets. Despite having a varied career, including working as a junior doctor and performing stand-up comedy, there is one aspect of his past that he admits he is not proud of.
During his time on the comedy circuit, Paul drew from his own experiences as a gay man of Bengali Hindu descent to create his material. This led to successful solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, but he also took on gigs in the Middle East in the early 2000s. In a recent interview with James O'Brien on his Full Disclosure podcast, Paul reflected on being a gay comedian in places like Abu Dhabi and Doha, where homosexuality is illegal.
Before his rise to fame as a quizzing genius, Paul worked as a stand-up comedian. It was during this time that he met and married his husband, Oliver Levy, in 2019. Looking back, Paul admits that he struggles to justify performing in the Middle East, knowing that he would have faced punishment if he were not a Westerner.
When asked about the World Cup being held in Qatar in 2022, given the country's human rights record and laws against homosexuality, Paul was honest in his response. He explained that as his career took off and he began performing overseas, he couldn't justify being on stage in Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, openly speaking about his identity while knowing that he would not be accepted if he were not a Westerner.
Paul humorously shared that during his time in the Middle East, his gigs were not for the money, but for the buffets. He also mentioned the controversy surrounding comedian Joe Lycett's criticism of David Beckham, who was being paid millions as an ambassador for Qatar. Joe called on Beckham to cut ties with the country, and when he did not receive a response, it raised questions about Beckham's reputation.
On the topic of money, Paul also shared a story about how he cost ITV a fortune after losing weight. He joined The Chase in 2011 and has never been shy about discussing his health issues, including being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2017 and Parkinson's in 2019. However, through a combination of reducing his calorie intake and losing two stone, Paul was able to put his diabetes into remission, as seen in the ITV documentary Diabetes: The Fast Fix.
Unfortunately, his weight loss also meant that ITV had to replace all of his suits, costing the channel a significant amount of money. Despite this, Paul shared that the most important result of his weight loss was successfully putting his diabetes into remission. And despite his Parkinson's diagnosis, he remains determined to fight and live his life to the fullest.
Today, Paul continues to entertain audiences with his impressive knowledge on The Chase alongside his fellow Chasers. He often shares his health journey and struggles with the public, inspiring others to take charge of their own well-being. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, don't hesitate to reach out to our entertainment team. We would love to hear from you.
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