Jimmy Carr has revealed details of the life-threatening infection he was diagnosed with as a child.
The comedian appeared on the podcast Where There's A Will, There's A Wake, and he told host Kathy Burke about his battle with meningitis.
"I had meningitis when I was a child. So my first memory is a lumbar puncture in Limerick in the General [hospital].
Related: Apprentice star opens up about health condition that "robbed him of control"
"I was three, I think, and I was always told it was very close to death," he said.
Despite his serious illness, Carr was able to amuse his mother with an unintentionally funny line.
What to Read Next
"'You've got to be cruel to be kind'. I think that is the first thing I ever said that my mother thought was funny," he recalled.
"The doctor sort of went: 'It's going to be very painful.' And somehow I'd heard the phrase, and I went: 'You've got to be cruel to be kind,' in a little child's voice."
Carr went on to explain why life is so important to him, adding: "I kind of appreciated that thing of life, because I was always told, 'Oh, you nearly didn't make it.'"
Related: Former Emmerdale star opens up over four hospital trips in a year
Following the podcast's format, Carr later shared how he would like to die, referring to it as a "good death".
Talking about how he'd want his kids and loved ones to inform people of his death, he admitted he wanted it to be humorous.
"Funny story. He flew to South Africa, and he went on one of those great shark cage experiences, and he forego-ed the cage. He said, 'No cage for me, thanks. I'll just jump in there with a fish.'"
"And I was ravaged by sharks. That would be a way to go," he concluded.
You Might Like...
Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a "telly addict" since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.
