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John McCririck made a rare appearance on TV last night to join the Big Brother's Bit On The Side panel to give his opinion on the latest happenings in the house.
But viewers at home appeared to be more concerned about his gaunt appearance than what he had to say about the current contestants.
The 78-year-old racing pundit and former CBB housemate, who battled severe flu at Christmas, recently lost three stone and his maroon blazer swallowed his frail frame, while his hat appeared far too big.
One viewer tweeted: "Hope John McCririck is really on the mend. Doesn’t look well at all."
(Image: Channel 5)
(Image: Channel 5)
(Image: Channel 5)
A second shared: "Poor John McCririck. Didn't realise he had been so unwell. Hope the poor bloke's OK.
"John McCririck is, literally, a shadow of his former self.... almost unrecognisable with all the weight he’s lost!! BBBOTS," said a shocked third.
Another said he looks "so frail and ill".
In March, John was back to work at the Cheltenham Festival after being forced to take some time off while battling illness.
He started having issues with his legs and speech over the Christmas period and was left feeling very weak.
Doctors were initially baffled but it later transpired he was suffering from severe flu.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
(Image: Getty)
(Image: PA)
On his return to the racecourse, he said: “I had terrible flu and it really got to my legs and voice ‑ it was awful.
“It’s hard to recover from and I’m not fully fit. But I’m Cheltenham-bound and we’re booked in for all four days.”
The following month he appeared on Good Morning Britain and shocked fans with his three-stone weight loss, which he said was down to going on his very first diet.
John McCririck shocks viewers with dramatic weight loss and 'frail' appearance on Big Brother's Bit On The Side JOHN McCririck left fans concerned with his frail appearance on Big Brother's Bit On The Side.
Big Brother: John worried viewers with his dramatic weight loss during his time on the panel [Channel 5]
Big Brother's Bit On The Side viewers shared their concern for John McCririck when he made an appearance on the show.
The racing pundit and former Celebrity Big Brother contestant joined the show's panel to discuss the latest antics taking place in the famous Elstree compound.
Whilst the outspoken star shared his verdict on the housemates, fans of Big Brother's spin-off show rushed to social media to share their thoughts on how different John looked.
Many picked up on how his clothes were too big for him as a result of his dramatic weight loss.
The TV star looked a shadow of his former self on the show [Channel 5]
Big Brother: John suffered from the flu last year [Channel 5]
"Hope John McCririck is really on the mend. Doesn’t look well at all," wrote one.
Another commented: "John McCririck looks so frail and ill . Such a shame #BBBOTS #BBUK."
"John McCririck looks so frail on BOTS," a third user shared on the social networking site.
Fans were concerned by his appearance [Channel 5]
John McCririck has always been known for his eccentric appearance [Wenn]
Big Brother: John returned to work earlier this year [Wenn]
Pointing out at how different John looked, one Twitter user shared: "Wow!!...John McCririck is, literally, a shadow of his former self!!...almost unrecognisable with all the weight he’s lost!! #BBBOTS."
"What’s wrong with John McCririck? He looks so ill #bbuk," another asked.
Earlier this year it was revealed that the Channel 4 sport pundit suffered from a severe case of the flu over the Christmas period.
Big Brother: John joined the panel to talk about the latest antics in the house [Channel 5]
Speaking about his ill health earlier this year, the Mirror reported him saying: "I had terrible flu and it really got to my legs and voice ‑ it was awful.
“It’s hard to recover from and I’m not fully fit."
Big Brother's Bit On The Side continues on Channel 5 from 11.35am.
JOHN McCririck worried fans with his “gaunt and frail” frame during Big Brother’s Bit On The Side.
The legendary racing pundit revealed he’d lost three stone after cutting roast potatoes out of his diet.
4 John McCririck worried fans who said he looked 'frail' and 'gaunt' during Big Brother's Bit On The Side
PA:Press Association 4 The 78-year-old used to work as a larger-than-life racing pundit
John, 78, appeared on fine form during the show however viewers couldn’t hide their concern.
One asked: “Can't get over how much weight John McCririck's lost! Has he been ill?”
Another said: “Jeez John McCririck looks so gaunt on #bbbots since I last saw him. What's wrong with him?”
While another questioned: “Why is he on there when clearly he is very frail?”
4 Fans admitted they were concerned for John, who lost three stone earlier this year by cutting out roast potatoes
Earlier this year, John admitted he’d suffered badly with the flue and it had affected his voice and legs.
He explained: “'I had terrible flu and it really got to my legs and voice ‑ it was awful...
“It’s hard to recover from and I’m not fully fit. But I’m Cheltenham-bound and we’re booked in for all four days.”
In June John opened up about his health kick in an interview with The Sun and said he decided to take action after ballooning to 19 stone.
John McCririck lays into Coleen Nolan on Celebrity Big Brother
Getty - Contributor 4
The former Channel 4 star began eating healthily, ditching chips, cakes and puddings.
John has entered Big Brother three times - twice as a contestant.
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The first time he appeared in Big Brother was back in 2005 on the third Celebrity Big Brother.
He was the second housemate to be evicted and lived in the house with Caprice Bourret, Bez, Germaine Greer, Jackie Stallone, Jeremy Edwards and Kenzie.
During the series he was best known for his angry protest over not being given Diet Coke.
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John McCririck was seen joining Rylan Clark-Neal, 29, on Channel 5’s Big Brother’s Bit On The Side last night.
However his rare appearance sparked concern with viewers over the seemingly dramatic weight loss.
The 78-year-old racing pundit and former Celebrity Big Brother houseman, who suffered with a severe flu at Christmas, was recently reported to have lost three stone in weight.
And his maroon blazer seemed to swallow his frail frame, whilst his hat appeared far too big.
