Sepsis may end my career says Dad’s Army star Ian Lavender, 72

Sepsis may end my career says Dad’s Army star Ian Lavender, 72, after he was struck down with the deadly condition during EastEnders return

  • Dad’s Army star Ian Lavender’s fears sepsis diagnosed may end his career at 72
  • He was hit by the potentially deadly condition last year while on EastEnders
  • The Daily Mail’s End The Sepsis Scandal is raising awareness of the illness 

Not even cancer and a heart attack were able to derail Ian Lavender’s acting career.

But the 72-year-old Dad’s Army star fears it may be at an end after he was diagnosed with sepsis.

He was hit by the potentially deadly condition last year during a brief return to EastEnders.

Ian Lavender fears his diagnosis with sepsis could end his career after suffering with the condition last year while on Eastenders 

He first joined the soap in 2001 as Derek Harkinson, a gay friend of Pauline Fowler, and left in 2005. He returned in 2016 before succumbing to sepsis.

Lavender told Radio Times he would like to be in EastEnders again but, after his sepsis diagnosis, ‘I don’t think they could get me insured now’. The actor, who survived bladder cancer in 1993 and a heart attack in 2004, found fame as Private Frank Pike in Dad’s Army when he was 22.

Speaking of his role in EastEnders, he said: ‘I enjoyed it immensely. I’ve got nothing but admiration for all the soaps, for the getting on to the screen of three and four episodes a week.’

The Daily Mail’s End The Sepsis Scandal campaign has been raising awareness of the illness, which affects 150,000 people in the UK each year. Around one third of those who develop sepsis die.

The old days: In 1968, when he was 22, Ian (second left) landed the role of Pike, the youngest member of the platoon in Dad's Army, referred to as 'stupid boy' by Captain Mainwaring

The old days: In 1968, when he was 22, Ian (second left) landed the role of Pike, the youngest member of the platoon in Dad’s Army, referred to as ‘stupid boy’ by Captain Mainwaring

 

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