In June 2021, BBC journalist Andrew Marr fell seriously ill with a bout of coronavirus following his visit to Cornwall to report on the G7 summit.
The 61-year-old has opened up about his battle with the potentially deadly disease and urged people "not to think you're invulnerable" as social distancing restrictions begin to lift.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the political broadcaster discussed how he fell victim to coronavirus, despite being double jabbed, and reveals the virus left him feeling "pretty bloody".
He told the paper how he first thought he was coming down with a "summer cold" after discovering the symptoms upon returning home to London from St.Ives.
Andrew explained to the paper that he suffered from a slight headache and sore throat but thought his pains were due to "a lot of pollen around."
Despite confessing that his early symptoms were not what he expected of Covid, The Andrew Marr Show host made the decision to take a PCR test.
Deemed more accurate than other tests, it revealed that the star had contracted coronavirus, despite producing several negative lateral flow tests in the previous weeks.
"The fact I'd taken six lateral flow tests that were all negative, when during some of that period I was certainly positive, makes me wonder what the point of them is," he questioned.
"If we'd put all our effort into making PCR tests even more available and forgotten about lateral flow tests, would we have been in a better position?"
Andrew went on to speak about the pain the virus left him in, recalling "nasty, vice-like headaches " and "a general feeling of malaise" before revealing that the last time he had suffered so badly was "25 years ago when I had hepatitis."
Andrew told the publication that being struck down with Covid left him unable to finish a 'serious' book or watch TV and said he spent his time ill "doing virtually nothing."
Andrew had received both doses of the vaccine by the end of March 2021 and urges people who are double jabbed to remain cautious as 'Freedom Day' approaches.
On Monday 19 July, aka 'Freedom Day', the government will end all legal, social and economic restrictions regarding efforts to mitigate the effects of coronavirus - including mask wearing and social distancing.
While Andrew is realistic about the need for the world to open again, the BBC presenter told the Daily Mail that he believes people should be cautious still, even if they are double jabbed like he was.
"We have to open up and get the economy moving again, but we also have to realise that this Delta strain is far more infectious than the earlier one, and even if you've had two jabs you're not protected against serious illness," he said.
"If I had a single thing to say to people it would be not to think you're invulnerable, to carry on taking the precautions that feel right for you."
