The fiancée of First Dates maître d' Fred Sirieix, Fruitcake, has offered an insight into her shocking health struggles.
Sirieix has been in a relationship with his partner, who he lovingly calls Fruitcake, for 10 years and the iconic duo share a number of loved-up snaps across social media.
Fruitcake has shared a number of photos to Instagram which reveal she has been diagnosed with Bell's Palsy.
She included the following statement: "I’ve been away for the past couple of months due to a diagnosis of Bell’s Palsy.
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"For those who may not know this condition causes sudden, temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face.
"Initially, I experienced excruciating pain, facial distortion (check out my pics - last one is most recent), and discomfort in my ear and head, which was incredibly painful and challenging to manage. The symptoms of Bell's Palsy are similar to a stroke. And so when I called the NHS helpline, I was rushed to A&E by ambulance for immediate care. Now, I’m managing some ongoing issues like visual disturbances and aches in my ear and jaw."
She continued: "One of the toughest challenges has been not recognising my reflection in the mirror, which made me retreat from social situations. However, each day brings new blessings, and I’m starting to look more like myself again. Since my diagnosis, I’ve delved into researching the condition—something I hadn’t even heard of until now. Hearing the stories of others in similar situations has been incredibly inspiring.
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"I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude—my family and friends have been incredible throughout this journey. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check on me; your support means the world! Thank you also to everyone at the NHS who looked after me. You guys are brilliant."
Things were ended on a positive note, concluding: "I feel truly blessed that my recovery is progressing faster than I initially anticipated.
"As we approach the holiday season, I wish you all a lovely Christmas and all the best in 2025! I’ll be back soon to share my fashion finds, but in the meantime, please stay safe and, most importantly, healthy!"
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Sirieix commented: "My love," with a heart emoji.
One supporter wrote: "Sending you lots of love and healing. Have a lovely Christmas and can’t wait to see your fun posts. Big hug."
Another added: "Sending you so much love, beautiful inside and out."
Topics: First Dates, Health, Celebrity, Sex and Relationships
Kya Buller