'I'm off again'
Paul O’Grady, 64, steps down from radio show amid coronavirus crisis to go into self-isolation
PAUL O'Grady has stepped down from his BBC Radio 2 show as he self-isolates amid the coronavirus crisis.
The 64-year-old, who has had three heart attacks, has been advised to quarantine in a bid to avoid the deadly virus.
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Paul left stand in host Paddy O'Connell a voice message that was played on the show today.
He said: "I'd only been back for one show after an absence and I'm off again!
"But I'm one of these people who falls into the category of underlying health problems and that's because I've had heart attacks.
"I've been strongly advised to self-isolate, so that's exactly what I'm doing.
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"I'm down in the wilds of Kent with a very lively five weeks old puppy, so I've got my hands full and I've got plenty to do, and I'd just like to say to everybody else who's self isolating - good luck and keep healthy and look after yourselves.
"And a big thank you to everyone in the NHS for all they're doing. I'll speak to you all when all this is finished so take care and once again Paddy, thanks very much and have a good show."
Fifty-four more people have today died across the UK after testing positive to coronavirus - with the death toll climbing to 335 in a day.
Sixteen deaths were recorded in London alone in 24 hours, while cases overall jumped from 5,837 to 6,650 - a spike of 800.
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The 20 per cent jump from 281 fatalities included four deaths in each Wales and Scotland, while England recorded 46 tragic deaths.
The victims killed by the deadly bug in the last 24 hours were aged between 47 and 105.
It comes after Boris Johnson warned a total lockdown was on the cards unless Brits stay home.
The PM warned selfish Brits not listening to advice designed to save lives that he could soon enforce a more serious lockdown - similar to the ones in Italy, France and Spain.
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In his address yesterday, Mr Johnson said: "I don't think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very very actively in the next 24 hours.
"We need to think about the kind of measures we've seen elsewhere - other countries that have been forced to bring in restrictions on people's movements altogether, now as I say I don't want to do that."
There was anger at scenes over the weekend of crowds flocking to parks, markets, beaches and beauty spots.
It came as an 18-year-old was thought to have become the youngest victim of the virus in Britain.
The teen victim died at University Hospital in Coventry.
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