Craig Charles felt like he was “drowning” when he had coronavirus.

Craig Charles recently had coronavirus

Craig Charles recently had coronavirus

The former 'Coronation Street' star tested positive for the virus in September this year, and he struggled to breathe while he battled COVID-19.

Speaking to Metro newspaper, he said: “It was horrible, actually. I was double-jabbed and I was glad because it might have been a lot worse if I hadn’t been. I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I was drowning.

"I couldn’t get enough oxygen into my lungs, which was pretty scary.”

Craig - who is best known for playing Dave Lister in sci-fi sitcom 'Red Dwarf' - portrayed Lloyd Mullaney in 'Corrie', and he has recalled how he and Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald) used to often go off-script during their scenes.

He said: “I loved playing Lloyd. They let me add so much of myself to the role that it didn’t feel like acting, to be honest.

“Me and Simon Gregson [Steve McDonald] were such good pals. At least once a month the producer would have us up to the office, begging us not to use the script as a template because we’d just make it all up like mates chatting in a pub.”

Craig left the show back in 2015 after a 10-year run, and the 57-year-old actor revealed this week he opted to depart the cobbles after the sudden death of his brother Dean, when he was appearing in 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me out Of Here!' in 2014.

He said: "My brother died when I was on 'I'm A Celeb'. He was only 52. I thought, 'If I died suddenly, would I be happy with what I'd achieved?' The honest answer was no. So I promised myself I'd have new adventures.

"I wouldn't have been able to do half the stuff I've done if I'd stayed in 'Coronation Street'."

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