'Benidorm's Tim Healy has spent the last four weeks "fighting for his life" in hospital after falling ill in Spain.
Tim Healy as Lesley in Benidorm
The 64-year-old actor has spent almost a month in a clinic in Costa Blanca after he contracted a mystery illness while shooting the next series of the popular sitcom over there.
But, although doctors seemed to think he was at death's door a few days ago, his condition is now said to be stable and he was deemed well enough to be airlifted back to a hospital in Manchester over the weekend.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Tim has been in a bad way for a while and had to pull out of filming 'Benidorm'. He was in hospital for three and a half weeks, and at one point he was fighting for his life. But he was flown to Manchester on Saturday and his condition has improved. His wife Joan has been by his side throughout the ordeal. He's still in hospital but is making progress. The doctors are keeping a constant eye on him."
Tim's condition deteriorated so much that his ex-wife Denise Welch, whom he was married to from 1988 until 2012, is believed to have jetted across to Spain to be at his bedside.
Meanwhile, although the legendary star has been showing signs of improvement, Tim's traumatic illness has left bosses with no choice but to shift filming schedules around.
A source for 'Benidorm' said: "Filming schedules have been adjusted to accommodate Tim's absence on screen. Everyone on 'Benidorm', both cast and crew, just wants him to rest up and recover well in his own time."
Tim is known for playing cross-dresser Lesley, a role he's held since 2010, in the popular comedy.
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