Only Fools and Horses star airs 'heart health' fears during Saturday Kitchen stint

Paul Whitehouse aired his concerns over his "heart health" as Matt Tebbutt dished up a mouthwatering winter warmer.

The actor, who is best known for his role as an impressionist in Harry Enfield and Chums, had appeared on the programme to promote his double-part in Only Fools and Horses, on stage.

He explained to the host that he had two parts in the popular stage show, playing not only the role of Grandad but also Uncle Albert too, with the BBC food programme devoting both his food heaven and hell to each character.

One option was a haddock dish, devoted in the spirit of his alter-ego Grandad and the other, beef and kidney pie for Uncle Albert. Before the public vote had been disclosed Matt served up a very special treat.

Matt had sizzled off some bangers in the pan and then simmered the sausaged down with some lentils, all while he whipped up some creamy mash potato for Paul to sample.

As the delightful staple was plated up, Paul turned to the host and addressed his health concerns, specially with matters to the heart. He said: "Erm heart health, is that a consideration on this show?" Paul then blurted: "Because it never has been," which sent those in the studio into fits of giggles.

Laughing off his comments, Matt responded, saying: "It's not too bad," as he retorted: "There's no butter in here, there's lots of lentils." Paul argued: "So there's no butter in the mash," as the host laughed and replied: "There's loads of butter in the mash." Nodding away the actor said: "Thank you."

Paul has been an advocate for heart health since his friend and co-star Bob Mortimer struggled with issues over the years which even saw him wheeled onto the Gone Fishing set via a wheel chair to carry out his on-air duties.

Although Bob tried to keep a low profile about his health woes, he has always tried to be open about the subject to help others. His symptoms first appeared in 2015 when he started to experience chest pain.

He was referred to see a cardiologist and found his arteries were "95 percent blocked". Bob underwent open heart surgery and recovered in his Tunbridge Wells home, he confessed at the time he felt like a recluse, who rarely left the house.

His friend Paul Whitehouse called Bob and asked him if he wanted to go fishing to help improve his mental health and sparked the beloved BBC series, and the rest they say is history.

There was further upset for Bob and his family when he later contracted Shingles and ended up wheelchair bound after being able to use one leg after the disease had taken its toll.

Elaborating on the situation Bob explained previously: "On one of the shows, when we were on the river, I was in a wheelchair, they didn't show it on camera but I was carried down and plonked on the river bank with a rug. You wouldn't know, you'd just notice I was always sitting down."

He added: "I'm better, shingles is a terrible thing, you can get lucky with it or unlucky. I got a bit unlucky with it, I lost the use of one of my legs but it's coming back now, I'm a bit lumpy but I'm very grateful to be back up and going."

Saturday Kitchen airs on Saturday's on BBC One from 10am.