Author Michael Rosen leaves intensive care after eight weeks in hospital

Author Michael Rosen has left intensive care after 47 days, his wife Emma-Louise Williams confirmed on Saturday.

Mr Rosen, the author of children’s books such as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, spoke about the initial stages of his illness on Twitter.

The 74-year-old has not tweeted since late March but his wife continued to update his followers while he was “very poorly”.

On Saturday, she said her husband had left intensive care eight weeks after being admitted to hospital.

“His recovery is continuing on the ward and will take time,” she tweeted. “He has done so well to get through this but please don’t expect him back here yet.”

Ms Williams retweeted the post on her husband’s account and praised “the amazing efforts of the lovely kind staff” at Whittington hospital in London, where he has been receiving treatment.

It has not been confirmed whether the author is battling coronavirus.

Describing the symptoms of his illness on March 22, Mr Rosen said: “Can’t stop my thermostat from crashing: icy hands, hot head. Freezing cold sweats.

“Under the covers for bed-breaking shakes. Image of war hero biting on a hankie, while best mate plunges live charcoal into the wound to cauterise it.”

The following day, the poet and broadcaster questioned whether he was suffering from a bad case flu.

He tweeted: “Have had no chest pains. No persistent cough. So all along it could have been a heavy flu and not corona. Today the fevers are ebbing. In their place a deep muscle exhaustion. In every corner.”

Mr Rosen was admitted to hospital later that week and his wife has been providing updates to his followers since.