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TV presenter Fiona Phillips has opened up on her “horrible” ordeal with battling coronavirus symptoms.
The former GMTV host, 59, said she fell ill on March 20 and suffered a range of ailments including severe fatigue, a “fiery throat” and difficulty breathing.
It took her three weeks to recover from the illness, she said, as she spoke after announcing her symptoms had cleared.
She called the experience as “scary” and said she had been left bed-ridden for days.
Coronavirus hits the UK – In pictures
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Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
2/45
An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
3/45
Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/45
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
5/45
Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
6/45
Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
7/45
Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
8/45
A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
9/45
Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
10/45
A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
11/45
General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
12/45
Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
13/45
A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
14/45
A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
15/45
Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
16/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
17/45
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
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People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
19/45
Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
20/45
Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
21/45
Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
22/45
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
23/45
A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
24/45
An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
25/45
Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
26/45
A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
27/45
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
28/45
A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
29/45
Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
30/45
Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
31/45
The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
32/45
Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
33/45
A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
34/45
Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
35/45
A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
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A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
37/45
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
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Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
39/45
A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
40/45
A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
41/45
A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
42/45
A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
43/45
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
44/45
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
45/45
Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
1/45
Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
2/45
An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
3/45
Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/45
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
5/45
Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
6/45
Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
7/45
Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
8/45
A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
9/45
Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
10/45
A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
11/45
General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
12/45
Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
13/45
A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
14/45
A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
15/45
Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
16/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
17/45
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
18/45
People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
19/45
Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
20/45
Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
21/45
Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
22/45
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
23/45
A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
24/45
An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
25/45
Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
26/45
A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
27/45
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
28/45
A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
29/45
Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
30/45
Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
31/45
The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
32/45
Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
33/45
A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
34/45
Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
35/45
A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
36/45
A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
37/45
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
38/45
Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
39/45
A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
40/45
A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
41/45
A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
42/45
A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
43/45
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
44/45
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
45/45
Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
Describing the experience in her column in The Mirror on Friday, Ms Phillips said it felt as if she had been “clobbered” in her sleep by the Covid-19 symptoms.
“However hard I tried to get myself out of bed and on with the day ahead, something was holding me back,” she said.
“Its presence was exhausting and came accompanied by nasty side-effects.”
Recounting the symptoms, she added: “I’d had horrible gut pain for a few days.
“My whole digestive tract was making a pain of itself, demanding attention and really dragging me down.”
Ms Phillips was still in bed three days after she first became ill and her husband – This Morning boss Martin Frizell – had to stay home from work to avoid the risk of infecting his ITV colleagues.
“Imagine how popular I’d have been if THAT had happened!” she said.
The TV presenter confirmed she was now feeling better, though still tired, adding: “My thoughts very much remain with those still fighting this horrible disease.”
A number of high-profile celebrities have been affected by the pandemic, including US star Tom Hanks, Luther actor Idris Elba and musician Pink.
