Paul Chuckle reveals how TV show ChuckleVision once ‘helped save a little girl’s life’

Paul Chuckle has emotionally recalled how he helped to save a young fan’s life.

The 75-year-old star, born Paul Elliott in Rotherham, appeared on ITV’s This Morning on Tuesday where he became visibly choked up as he told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield how his iconic children’s TV show ChuckleVision once helped revive a little girl from a coma.

The slapstick comedy aired from 1987 to 2009 and starred Paul and his late brother Barry as double-act the Chuckle Brothers, famous for their “to me, to you” catchphrase.

He said: “We said at the time, if we do nothing else in life we have saved a little girl’s life.

“She was a massive fan [of ChuckleVision] and she was very ill and she went into a coma, and she had been in one for over a week.”

He went on to explain that things had been so grave, her parents had been told that if no improvement was shown within days, doctors would turn off her life support.

“Doctors said [to the parents] you can talk to her, but we don’t know if she can hear you.”

The distraught mum then had a brainwave and decided to tape the theme tune to her daughter’s favourite TV show ChuckleVision and play it on loop next to her bedside.

“Then within two minutes the little girl opened her eyes and said, ‘Is [ChuckleVision] on, Mummy?’”

Both Willoughby and Schofield looked astounded by the tale.

Recalling his own initial reaction after finding out about the incident, Chuckle said: “Tears came out my eyes, I’m filling up now.”