Latest news with #CraigRussell
Metro
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Hollyoaks and EastEnders star 'almost died' from undetected brain tumour
Hollyoaks and EastEnders star Craig Russell has revealed how he 'almost died' from an undetected brain tumour. The actor, who starred as DI Mark Gascoyne in the Channel 4 soap, opened up about the symptoms he suffered as a result of the tumour, which had gone undetected for 15 years. He began to notice symptoms like memory loss, confusion and loss of vision in one eye in 2022,before his wife Kate Edney urged him to see a doctor. He was then sent for CT and MRI scans, which revealed a benign tumour growing in his brain, roughly the size of a squashed lime. 'It stopped me in my tracks, I never thought it would happen to me,' he told PA Real Life. 'The tumour got so big it pushed my skull up and out, it deformed the back of my head.' The actor, who has two children, revealed that he needed to undergo surgery to remove the tumour. Writing for Metro in 2023, Craig explained: 'On 3rd March 2023, I had a meeting with the surgeon who explained that the tumour was running out of room and shutting my brain down. 'They explained that if they didn't get it out now, I would start having fits, strokes and worse. 'He told me the risks; that I could go blind. That I could die. I was in the office with a consultant, his PA and Kate, and I just put my head in my hands and said 'flipping heck' so I didn't let out a volley of foul language. 'It was a shock. But that was the hardest part of the whole journey. It was sobering and ground shaking. But it only lasted about ten seconds before I snapped out of it.' He continued to PA Real life: 'My surgeon explained my tumour had been growing there for about 15 years, and it appeared to have enveloped all the important stuff I needed to survive. 'There was a very real chance I wouldn't survive the operation because one little mistake and that's it, or at best I could come out blind or have a stroke,' he explained. Craig had the operation in 2023, where surgeons were able to successfully remove the entire tumour. More Trending 'My head still hurts occasionally but I'm now back to full health,' he said. He went on to urge people to listen to their bodies and see a doctor if something doesn't feel right. View More » 'If I had truly listened to my body, this would have all been done and dusted years ago – so if you think you've got something wrong, please just go and see your doctor.' MORE: Coronation Street star to return – and she's already back filming MORE: EastEnders star reveals why she refused to stop filming after cancer diagnosis MORE: Coronation Street legend signs new contract to stay on show as huge story gets underway
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Hollyoaks actor Craig Russell reveals he 'nearly died' after brain tumour went undetected for 15 years leaving him suffering terrifying symptoms
Hollyoaks ' Craig Russell has revealed he 'nearly died' after a brain tumour went undetected for 15 years and left him suffering terrifying side effects. The Welsh actor, 48, who played DI Mark Gascoyne in the Channel 4 soap between 2008 and 2009, alongside roles in EastEnders and Netflix 's Queen Cleopatra, was left with memory loss, confusion and also began to lose his vision in one eye. The symptoms first began in September 2022, before being left 'all over the place' when wife and fellow actor Kate Edney convinced him to see a doctor. Medics then informed him he had a non-cancerous tumour that had grown to such a scale his skull had been left 'deformed' and would need to undergo an operation to remove the mass from his brain. Craig, who shares sons Teddy, 10, and Henry, seven, with his wife told PA Real Life: 'The tumour got so big it pushed my skull up and out, it deformed the back of my head,' 'There was a very real chance I wouldn't survive the operation because one little mistake and that's it, or at best I could come out blind or have a stroke'. Craig has since gone on to make a full recovery and finished his latest film Protein, in which he plays a cannibal series killer, which was released earlier this year. He said: 'Someone asked me if I thought I'd ever see the film finished, which was a sobering idea as I nearly died before it came out, I'm so glad I was there to see it, so I just have a lot of pride for everyone in' Reflecting on unknowingly batting through the symptoms of his illness, he wrote on Instagram: 'In the years leading up to my brain tumour diagnosis I was a mess'. 'Didn't know what I was doing, always confused and often making ridiculous decisions. All the while [My wife] Kate remained the most loyal & incredible source of all that's great. A massive shout out to Kate today as I strive to make this year all about looking after her'. Last month Craig's former Hollyoaks cast mate Stephanie Waring said she was left 'hysterically crying, shaking and begging' when she was sacked from the show. The actress, 47, starred in the Cheshire soap on Channel 4 for 28 years from 1996 to 2024. Hollyoaks was hit by stringent budget cuts last year and cut down from five to three instalments a week, letting go of staff too. Stephanie's character, Cindy Cunningham, was axed by bosses and the star has delved into how she reacted in her book, Breaking The Script. She recalled how she had a meeting with two producers who broke the news to her by reading a written statement. The star described how she struggled to process what was being said to her and as it sank in, she felt emotional at the departure of her beloved character. She wrote, 'But as the statement neared its close, before the final words were even spoken, I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I was shaking as I looked at the two of them.' 'Then it happened. 'And with that said, we will be losing Cindy from the show. I'm so sorry, Steph.' The world stopped for a second as I replayed those words in my head. Then… I lost my s***.' She was particularly heartbroken that her staple character would not be featuring in the big anniversary special. Stephanie went on to write, 'What? No! You mean you're not taking me to the 30th?' I blurted out, referencing the upcoming anniversary of the show – a milestone that meant so much to the long-standing cast. 'I don't understand. No, I don't understand. I don't understand!' I was frantic. 'But I've been so loyal. Please, no. This is my life. I love my job – please, no!' She described how she was 'hysterically crying' and added: 'I repeated myself, hoping one of them would see my distress and take it all back. Had they made a mistake? My world felt like it was imploding.' She signed her new contract which started from April 27 and her character departed in July. However, the short notice made her feel like she 'had swallowed a grenade' and she admitted to 'a few expletives rolling off my tongue like bullets'. Afterwards, she ran out of the room and found comfort from Kirsty Leigh Porter and Jennifer Metcalfe, who starred as Leela Dexter and Mercedes McQueen in the show. Since leaving the soap, Stephanie has gone on to become a 'certified mind-body coach', according to her social media.
The Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
My memory blips and headaches were a tumour that deformed my skull over 15 years, says Hollyoaks actor
HOLLYOAKS actor Craig Russell says he "nearly died" due to a lime-sized brain tumour that grew undetected for more than a decade and 'deformed' his skull. The 48-year-old first noticed he was experiencing memory loss, confusion, migraines and brain fog in September 2022. 10 10 By January 2023, Craig was "all over the place" and his wife Kate, 40, urged him to get his symptoms checked out by a GP. Tests showed the Welsh actor, writer and producer - known for his roles in TV shows such as Hollyoaks and Netflix's Queen Cleopatra - was going blind in his left eye. Meanwhile, a non-cancerous tumour the size of a squashed lime was found growing in his brain, so large it was 'deforming' his skull. 'It stopped me in my tracks, I never thought it would happen to me,' Craig - who lives in Falmouth, Cornwall with Kate and their two sons - said. Doctors reckoned it could have been growing slowly for 15 years. Craig underwent a risky operation to get rid of the mass and rebuild damaged parts of his skull in March 2023, which could have killed him or left him blind. 'There was a very real chance I wouldn't survive the operation because one little mistake and that's it, or at best I could come out blind or have a stroke," the actor said. The actor suffered complications following the surgery but has since recovered fully and has been able to finish his latest film, Protein, that's been 10 years in the making. 'Someone asked me if I thought I'd ever see the film finished, which was a sobering idea as I nearly died before it came out,' Craig said. 'I'm so glad I was there to see it, so I just have a lot of pride for everyone involved. Beaming Davina McCall reveals she's got all clear from brain tumour after life-saving surgery 'I feel lucky to have had a brain tumour in a way because I've learnt so much about life, people and resilience.' In September 2022, Craig noticed he was experiencing out-of-character symptoms – such as memory loss, confusion, migraines and brain fog. He also heard a 'whooshing' sound emerge from the back of his head when producing a scream during filming for the movie Edge of Summer, which 'nearly caused [him] to collapse'. Craig was told by doctors that they'd "found something" in his brain after his GP visit in January 2023. 10 10 10 10 He was referred for further MRI scans towards the end of February and the actor was told he had a large, non-cancerous tumour growing in his brain, roughly the size of a squashed lime. Doctors suspected the tumour was a meningioma – a benign tumour that forms in the layers of tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. This diagnosis was confirmed after his surgery. 'The tumour got so big it pushed my skull up and out, it deformed the back of my head,' Craig said. He was told the best course of action was to surgically remove the mass, but there could be risks. Symptoms of a benign brain tumour A benign brain tumour is a mass of cells that grows relatively slowly in the brain. Benign means it in not cancerous. Non-cancerous brain tumours tend to stay in one place and do not spread. Some slow-growing tumours may not cause any symptoms at first. When symptoms occur, it's because the tumour is putting pressure on the brain and preventing a specific area of the brain from working properly. As the tumour grows and increases pressure in the skull, you might experience: New, persistent headaches that are sometimes worse in the morning or when bending over or coughing Feeling sick all the time Drowsiness Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision, loss of part of your visual field and temporary vision loss Epileptic seizures that may affect the whole body, or you may just have a twitch in one area See a GP if you develop any of these symptoms. They'll examine you and ask about your symptoms. If they suspect you may have a tumour or are not sure what's causing your symptoms, they may refer you to a brain and nerve specialist for further investigation. Source: NHS 'My surgeon explained my tumour had been growing there for about 15 years, and it appeared to have enveloped all the important stuff I needed to survive,' the actor said. Craig's seven-hour operation on March 6 2023, at the Derriford Hospital in Plymouth involved cutting away a piece of his skull, which had become damaged by the tumour. From there, the tumour was removed and part of his skull was rebuilt from a plastic-concrete mix, held in place by bolts, before everything was sealed with '55 staples' into his scalp. Thankfully, the surgery was a success and the tumour was removed in its entirety. After suffering subsequent complications with swelling and excess fluid building up on his brain, Craig said he has since made a full recovery, finding weight-lifting helped the fluid to drain naturally. 'My head still hurts occasionally but I'm now back to full health,' Craig said. 'Listen to your body' In March 2024, Craig spoke in parliament to call on the UK Government to release more funding for research into the disease, and in September that year, he became an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research to champion for others impacted. New treatments for meningiomas, could be on the horizon, as researchers at the University of Plymouth have identified a protein that plays a significant role in their growth, according to Brain Tumour Research. By blocking the protein, researchers were able to slow or halt tumour cell growth in laboratory settings, unlocking the potential for new treatments, which Craig said is 'a big step forward'. Craig's latest film, Protein, which is currently out in select cinemas, marked an emotional experience for the actor as there was a chance he may not have seen the film's release. Protein is in select cinemas now and will be released on digital platforms from July 14. The actor is urging others to pay attention to worrying symptoms. 'If I had truly listened to my body, this would have all been done and dusted years ago – so if you think you've got something wrong, please just go and see your doctor.' 10 10
Wales Online
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Welsh Hollyoaks and Netflix star's lifesaving operation after migraine issue
Welsh Hollyoaks and Netflix star's lifesaving operation after migraine issue Craig Russell had started forgetting things and began suffering from terrible migraines before scans revealed he had a benign tumour in his brain which was the size of a lime and had been there for over a decade Craig Russell and his wife Kate who encouraged him to see a medical professional when he began forgetting things A Welsh actor said he nearly died after a large tumour grew undetected for more than a decade inside his brain. Craig Russell, known for his roles in TV shows such as Hollyoaks and Netflix's Queen Cleopatra, has shared his near-death experience which resulted in him having a deformed skull. Craig, 48, from Cwmtwrch in the Swansea Valleys and now living in Falmouth in Cornwall with his wife Kate, 40, and their two sons Teddy, 10 and Henry, seven, said he first noticed there might be a problem when he began forgetting things and then had migraines in September 2022. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . He then described a harrowing incident where a "whooshing" came from the back of his head when he gave a scream during filming for 2024 film Edge of Summer which he said "nearly caused me to collapse". By January 2023, grappling with deteriorating health, Craig admitted he was "all over the place" until Kate urged him to book an appointment with his GP. During the consultation he recalled how the doctor realised Craig was losing vision in his left eye and swiftly arranged a CT scan. Craig's head after surgery which removed the tumour which was the size of a compressed lime Article continues below Hours after the scan Craig's GP telephoned with unsettling news that they had "found something" within the imagery, prompting an urgent referral for additional MRI examinations towards the end of February 2023. The scans revealed he had a substantial benign tumour within his cranium comparable in dimensions to a compressed lime. Craig said: "It stopped me in my tracks. I never thought it would happen to me." Medics believed, given the size of the tumour, it had probably been developing inside his brain without him knowing for around 15 years. "The tumour got so big it pushed my skull up and out. It deformed the back of my head," he explained. Benign brain tumours can be dangerous even though they are not cancerous because they can still cause serious problems by pressing on and damaging the brain. So Craig underwent a risky operation in March 2023 to remove the mass which could have resulted in blindness or death. Part of his damaged skull was removed and rebuilt using a plastic-concrete mix held in place by bolts and staples in his scalp. Craig underwent a critical seven-hour surgery at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where surgeons removed a section of his skull affected by the tumour. Craig thanked his family for supporting him through a very difficult period in his life Craig recalled: "My surgeon explained my tumour had been growing there for about 15 years and it appeared to have enveloped all the important stuff I needed to survive. There was a very real chance I wouldn't survive the operation because one little mistake and that's it – or at best I could come out blind or have a stroke." Craig, who praised his family and particularly his wife for her "unwavering support", recovered successfully and has since become an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research and a patron for children's charity Joseph's Smile. His most recent film, Protein, which premiered on June 13 this year featuring him in the role of a serial killer with a penchant for cannibalism, was a decade-long project. At one point the actor said it seemed uncertain whether he would survive to witness its release. "Someone asked me if I thought I'd ever see the film finished, which was a sobering idea as I nearly died before it came out," he said. "I'm so glad I was there to see it – I don't know if you can watch movies from the afterlife so I just have a lot of pride for everyone involved. I feel lucky to have had a brain tumour in a way because I've learnt so much about life, people, and resilience." Despite facing post-operative challenges with swelling and fluid build-up around his brain Craig revealed he has fully recovered, attributing his improvement to weight-lifting which encouraged the drainage of fluid. "My head still hurts occasionally but I'm now back to full health," he said. Craig is now an ambassador for the Brain Tumour Charity and called for more funding for research when he appeared in parliament last year He has advocated for increased government funding towards brain tumour research and he has taken on the role of an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research. Advancements in treating meningiomas, the kind of brain tumour Craig endured, may be coming as researchers from the University of Plymouth have pinpointed a significant protein influencing their growth, reports Brain Tumour Research. By targeting the protein scientists managed to decelerate or stop the proliferation of tumour cells in lab environments – a development that Craig described as "a big step forward". Craig's recent film, Protein, which is showing in select cinemas, was particularly poignant for him given the uncertainty over whether he would live to see its premiere. "The fact all that work we did is now being recognised favourably, especially by Mark Kermode, makes me so proud, so happy, and so relieved," he added. "If I had truly listened to my body this would have all been done and dusted years ago – so if you think you've got something wrong please just go and see your doctor." Article continues below Protein is currently screening in select cinemas and is set for digital release on July 14.
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Protein film actor Craig Russell 'lucky' to see film after brain tumour
A Welsh actor has said there was "a very real chance" he would not see his latest film finished after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour following Russell, who grew up in Cwmtwrch in the Swansea Valley, said in hindsight he realised he experienced symptoms of the tumour while the thriller, Protein, was in production."A couple of weird things happened, I was walking into stuff, I was getting lost in our own house," he film, which tells the story of a gym-obsessed serial killer who murders and eats a local drug dealer for their protein, inadvertently sparking a turf-war between rival drugs gangs, was shot in south and west Wales following Russell's suggestion. He told writer and director Tony Burke there was "nowhere like Wales" for talent, "both in front of and behind the camera, scenery, everything you might need"."He took my advice and luckily it paid off," he said speaking to Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales."As he says himself now, 'Wales is the most important character in the movie'." Russell admits "self-preservation" led him to downplaying the initial symptoms of his tumour."The back of my head started really hurting," he said."I hadn't even realised I was losing the sight of my left eye, the hearing in my left ear."His wife Kate persuaded him to go to see a GP, and an MRI scan revealed a brain tumour that had been growing for about 15 days later, Russell had a seven-hour surgery to remove it and was told he "might not survive".The back of his skull was taken away and then rebuilt after surgeons removed the tumour."The NHS are brilliant, aren't they? They saved my life," he is an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research to help raise awareness. The actor said he did not mind playing a cannibal in Protein, but admitted some scenes could be difficult to watch."I drink a lot of what appear to be protein shakes in the movie. But for the viewer it looks like I'm drinking these flesh drinks," he said."I remember finishing one take, looking across and two members of the crew had their backs to me and were retching over a bucket which was quite amusing. But actually it was just watermelon, porridge, almond milk, it was delicious, I really enjoyed it."He continued: "I ate raw beef. I would fry a steak and eat that. So it looks horrible because the audience thinks I'm eating a bloke, but for me it was fine. I did really enjoy the cannibal stuff."Protein is being shown at selected cinemas across Wales first, before being rolled out across the UK next week.
