Joe Swash opens up about devastating brain illness amid brutal EastEnders axe

dailystar.co.uk:

Joe Swash has opened up about his devastating brain bug that led to him being hospitalised.The ex EastEnders actor who married Loose Women favourite Stacey Solomon on Sunday was left fighting for his life in 2005 and believes that this ultimately led to his losing his EastEnders role.Joe landed the role of Mickey Miller in 2003 and was only supposed to have a short recurring role but was such a fan favourite that he got a permanent gig on the BBC soap.READ MORE: Stacey Solomon 'marries Joe Swash during Jewish wedding ceremony at Pickle Cottage'Joe struggled with partying too hard and was told to calm down by EastEnders' chiefs because he was "lad about town" and even earned himself the nickname Swashbuckler.The in 2005 his life took a dark turn when he was hospitalised with a devastating brain bug.The star was rushed to hospital where it was discovered that he was suffering from meningitis and encephalitis, swelling of the brain.His family and friends were told to 'prepare for the worst' but the actor began to recover and returned home after six weeks.Joe had to take three months unpaid leave whilst he recovered from his illness and took physio therapy to help him learn to talk and move again.Joe has since told The Sun that he believes his illness to be the reason he eventually lost his dream job on EastEnders."My illness had a massive impact on the job.

When I came back I couldn’t find my feet," he told The Sun."New producers came in and brought in new actors and I got lost down the pecking order."In February 2008, it was announced that Joe and David Sphinx, who played his step dad Keith Miller, were both being written out of the soap in an explosive exit.However life has gotten better for Joe as 12 years later he has.