BBC Breakfast shares emotional update as star ‘thought life was over’ after diagnosis

BBC Breakfast hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent spoke with musician Rupert Brown about living with his diagnosis.

Jon Kay and Sally Nugent on BBC Breakfast (Image: BBC)

BBC Breakfast presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent shared some poignant news during Monday’s programme following a conversation with a guest battling Tinnitus. The hearing condition involves experiencing sounds or ringing in the ears or head without any external cause, typically triggered by age-related hearing deterioration, exposure to loud sounds, ear infections, or trauma. Signs include buzzing, hissing, or throbbing noises.

Jon observed that Rupert’s affliction must be “debilitating”, whilst the guest confessed he believed his “life was over”. Opening the discussion, Jon said: “We’re joined on the sofa by musician, drummer, Rupert Brown, morning to you, Rupert, and by Alex Brooks-Johnson from the charity Tinnitus UK. Hi, Alex. Rupert, should we start with you? I think for people who haven’t ever experienced tinnitus, it’s really hard to imagine what it’s like, and it comes and goes for you, but when it’s back, just describe what you suffer with,” reports the Mirror.

Sally and Jon spoke to Rupert about his condition (Image: BBC)

Reflecting on when his tinnitus first struck, Rupert revealed: “When I was at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, a fantastic place, working with a jazz legend, and I came off stage, and I had eight different tinnitus sounds.

“And if you can imagine being on Bishop’s Rock lighthouse, and you’ve got these whirling helicopters crashing waves, there are bells from a church tower. and I nearly passed out, and I had a perforated eardrum, and I thought my life was over.

“I just couldn’t accept this new reality, and so it was just terrible, and I remember sleeping to Kate Bush that night as I was living in Thamesmead, I had it on 10, and it wasn’t loud enough to drown it out.

Rupert thought his “life was over” after being diagnosed (Image: BBC)

“And I think what made it permanent is I had to keep going because I didn’t want to give up. And that’s that Viking spirit. I just never wanted to give up,” he added.

“That’s so debilitating, though, isn’t it?” Jon interjected as Rupert responded: “I couldn’t believe what had happened to me. I couldn’t, but I managed to get through.”

Sally then highlighted that Rupert was a musician who played the drums, prompting the guest to continue, “Yeah, I drum all the time. I do sessions all the time. I teach music all the time. I’m an advocate of playing drums. I love it. It’s my passion. I’m devoted.

“It might be the worst thing for your hearing, though,” Sally observed, to which Rupert conceded, “Yeah, possibly. But the thing is, with these great earplugs provided by Jono and the team at ACS, and all the things out there for people, I’m actually okay.

“I have it permanently, but I’m not defined by it. I hardly have it these days. I can’t hear it.”

He continued: “I’ve had it so bad three times, so I know that if I can deal with that and get through it properly with psychological help, support from the tinnitus support groups, great clinical advice, a good sense of positivity, and some spiritual positivity, I can get through it.”