Melanie Sykes has opened up about the devastating impact of a newly diagnosed autoimmune condition, admitting she is now “two-thirds bald” and living with “so much pain” as her body continues to suffer from severe inflammation.
The 55-year-old TV star shared an emotional clip on Instagram, bundled up in a jumper, jacket, scarf and hat, as she explained that her year-long illness has pushed her toward what she calls a “deeply spiritual existence.” Melanie told followers she has been “ill all year,” losing large sections of hair while dealing with episodes of “crazy inflammation all over.”
Trying to channel positivity, she revealed she recently completed most of a meditation teacher-training course, despite being too unwell to finish the last two days. She said the goal was never necessarily to teach but to strengthen her own healing.
Alongside the video, Melanie told fans she had relaunched her YouTube channel after “a long period of learning, meditating and healing,” adding a message of affection: “Remember I love you always.”
Her hair loss journey began surfacing publicly in April, when she showed a bald patch during a visit to London to investigate her health problems. Melanie later revealed she had been struggling with “alopecia and heart issues due to all that has happened over the last few months — PTSD, shock, mistreatment and malpractice.”
The former presenter did not hold back when speaking about her experience with the UK’s healthcare system, saying “this country must do better,” and calling parts of the system “utterly shocking” except for a few “decent humans who listen without prejudice and judgement.”
Melanie also shared how stress and insomnia have become part of her daily struggle. In a more detailed update, she showed significant patches of hair loss, saying: “I’ve lost inches off my hairline at the back and probably have half my hair at the moment.”
Thankfully, she is now receiving treatment and a scalp specialist has reassured her that her hair will grow back.
Melanie, who first rose to fame in a 1996 Boddingtons Bitter advert before hosting shows like The Big Breakfast and Today with Des and Mel, also reminded fans of her resilience — including her memorable third-place finish on I’m A Celebrity in 2014.
