Craig Charles rushed to hospital after falling ill live on air with mystery ailment that left him 'struggling to grasp a pen'

Craig Charles was rushed to hospital after falling ill during his BBC Radio 6 Music show on Wednesday. 

The former Red Dwarf actor, 58, shockingly lost the use of his hands due to a mystery ailment,  and failing to grasp a pen before also being struck with pain.

Nevertheless Craig, who has hosted the Funk and Soul show since 2002, soldiered on with the broadcast before wife Jackie rushed him to A&E later that night. 

He told his listeners upon his return to the airwaves on Friday: 'My hands couldn't grip the pen and my fingers were tingling,' 

'I had a pain in the right side of me shoulder going up my neck and into the back of my head'.

Scary: Craig Charles, 58,  was rushed to hospital after falling ill during his BBC Radio 6 Music show on Wednesday

Scary: Craig Charles, 58,  was rushed to hospital after falling ill during his BBC Radio 6 Music show on Wednesday

Shock! The former Red Dwarf actor shockingly lost the use of his hands, failing to grasp a pen before being struck with pain

Shock! The former Red Dwarf actor shockingly lost the use of his hands, failing to grasp a pen before being struck with pain

'The producer asked: 'Are you okay?' I said, 'Not really, but we'll get through the show.'

He revealed once arriving at hospital he was given an ECG (electrocardiogram) to rule out heart problems before spending the following 24 hours receiving further tests.

The hospital visit resulted in a five hour wait with Craig telling his listeners: 'This is no disrespect or no criticism of Wythenshawe Hospital they were brilliant, they were professional, they were caring, they were dedicated'.

Saying that he and wife Jackie attempted to get some sleep on a single trolley before they were awoken by fellow patient 'screaming because he'd dislocated his shoulder'.

Before joking: 'So nearly 24 hours in the hospital and they still don't know what's wrong with me but at least I'm not dying yet'.

It comes after it was reported Craig's gameshow Moneybags will be taken off air after it failed to get renewed for another series with Channel Four.

It may come as a surprise to fans after the show proved to be a hit with viewers.

An insider told The Sun: 'Moneybags has a really big and loyal fan base and having Craig on board just made it perfect.

Soldiering on: Nevertheless Craig, who has hosted the Funk and Soul show since 2002, soldiered on with the broadcast before wife Jackie rushed him to A&E later that night (pictured together in 2017)

Soldiering on: Nevertheless Craig, who has hosted the Funk and Soul show since 2002, soldiered on with the broadcast before wife Jackie rushed him to A&E later that night (pictured together in 2017)

Illness: He told his listeners upon his return to the airwaves on Friday: 'My hands couldn't grip the pen and my fingers were tingling'

Illness: He told his listeners upon his return to the airwaves on Friday: 'My hands couldn't grip the pen and my fingers were tingling'

'Unfortunately Covid has once again played it's part causing the production behind it to go bust.'

Moneybags was commissioned by Channel 4 in 2021 and was later renewed for another series which featured 30 episodes the following year.

It's original time slot was at 3pm, before later being moved to the sort-after 5pm viewing time.

However sadly the show is no more, after producers Youngest Media were forced to shut down and enter liquidation.

The format of the show saw 10 new contestants enter the competition, with £1million divided between 100 moneybags.

The fee in each bag ranged between £1,000 and £100,000.

What a shame! It comes after it was reported Craig's gameshow Moneybags will be taken off air after it failed to get renewed for another series with Channel Four

What a shame! It comes after it was reported Craig's gameshow Moneybags will be taken off air after it failed to get renewed for another series with Channel Four

For each game, 20 bags are chosen out of the 100 and once a particular bag is picked by contestants it is then out of play for the rest of the week.

The Money Belt - a conveyor belt - carries the moneybags after the enter at one end before falling down a chute at the other. 

During the game, contestants complete in a series of rounds to win bags. 

Speaking about hosting the show, Craig previously told The Herald: 'I also liked the sense of companionship and camaraderie that the show engenders, because you're with them for a few days, you know...

'It's a slower process, you get to know people, how much it means to them, you get to find out a bit about the personalities involved.

'I'm not faking the excitement. It's really exciting, it's edge of your pants stuff. There's a million pounds a week coming down that conveyor belt, and it can be life changing sums for people.'

Channel 4 has been contacted for comment.