BBC's Clive Myrie opens up on wife's 'seriously bad' infection over Christmas
BBC presenter Clive Myrie has opened up about a concerning health scare that cast a shadow over his Christmas festivities, disclosing that his wife Catherine was fighting a "seriously bad" lung infection during the holiday season.
The esteemed newsreader, 61, revealed the pair chose a subdued, intimate Christmas at home whilst Catherine recuperated, explaining that health worries forced them to abstain from alcohol and scrap long-established family arrangements to safeguard elderly relatives.
Chatting to Romesh Ranganathan on BBC Radio 2, Clive shared: "It's been a quiet Christmas, which was nice. Very nice, I spent it at home with my wife Catherine, who had a seriously bad lung infection, would you believe?"
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He continued to describe how the ailment influenced their festive choices, remarking: "So, it meant that, first of all, we couldn't drink any booze, which was a bit of a problem, it was shocking."
On a more sombre note, Clive revealed the pair took the tough choice not to see family members because of the potential dangers. "But to be honest with you, it meant that we couldn't see my folks before Christmas. My dad is 95, my mum is 90. And Catherine's mum is 95. You don't want to be taking viral infections around people of that age. That vintage," reports the Daily Record.
Instead, the pair opted for a more low-key festive period, with Clive calling it a "nice quiet Christmas" whilst assuring supporters that Catherine is now on the road to recovery.
"Catherine's on the mend now," he revealed, explaining how they celebrated with a modest substitute for bubbly whilst she was taking her medication.
"We were drinking fizzy tea, you know, the fizzy tea you can get in bottles? Sorry, non-alcoholic champagne, fizzy tea," he quipped.
The moment they could finally enjoy a proper celebratory drink arrived later.
"And then, on Christmas Day, when she got off the antibiotics, we had a nice glass of champagne. And it was lovely. It was lovely."
Clive and Catherine have been wed for over thirty years, having initially crossed paths in 1992 before marrying six years later. Despite Clive's prominent career, the duo have consistently maintained the privacy of their relationship, favouring a life removed from public attention.
Catherine operates as a furniture restorer and upholsterer, with Clive having previously discussed the significance of preserving normality and balance within their household.
The couple have also been candid regarding their choice not to become parents, with Clive previously revealing to The Times that they had originally intended to start a family. Nevertheless, following difficulties with conception, he explained they reassessed their priorities and instead concentrated on their professional lives and travelling the world.
Clive's illustrious career at the BBC has spanned decades, establishing him as one of the corporation's most reliable journalists. He embarked on his journey with the broadcaster in the late 1980s and carved out a name for himself as a foreign correspondent, delivering reports from war-torn regions such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine. In recent years, he has also become a familiar face to entertainment viewers as the host of BBC One's Mastermind.