ITV Royal Variety Sir Elton John’s ‘serious’ health update as he makes heartbreaking admission

The legendary Rocketman singer returns to screens tonight to introduce a performance from his new musical

Elton John returns to our screens tonight as part of the Royal Variety Performance. The world’s longest running entertainment event will be broadcast on ITV at 8pm.

The iconic musician is part of a star-studded line-up at the Royal Albert Hall that also includes Alan Carr, Amanda Holden and Stephen Mulhern. Elton is joined on stage by her husband, David Furnish, as he introduces a performance from his new West End musical, The Devil Wears Prada.

The Rocketman singer issued a sad health update at the gala opening of his new musical earlier this month. He said: “I haven’t been able to get to a lot of the previews because, as you know, I’ve lost my eyesight.

“So it’s hard for me to see it, but I love hearing it, and boy, it sounded good tonight.” The 77-year-old described his health problems in a post on Instagram in September when he revealed he had contracted a serious eye infection.

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He said: “Over the summer I have been dealing with a serious eye infection which has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye. I am healing but it is an extremely slow process and it will take some time before vision returns to the affected eye.”

He thanked the medical team and his family who had looked after him, adding: “I have quietly spent the summer recovering at home and feel positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery so far.”

In November, he told ABC News’ Good Morning America that he had lost sight in his right eye after developing the infection in the south of France, adding: “It’s been four months now that I haven’t been able to see and my left eye is not the greatest.”

It’s been a busy week for Sir Elton, as Friday marked the release of his new Disney+ documentary, Elton John Never Too Late. The documentary explores Sir Elton’s incredible career in the spotlight as he prepared for his final ever live show at Dodger Stadium.

Sir Elton opened up about the heartfelt reason he stepped away from performing to spend more time with his family. He said: “I don’t know how much time I have left.

“You think about that more when you get to my age, you think about life and death. After this tour, I don’t want to do anything. That’s when you start thinking about mortality.”

Sir Elton is the proud father of two sons, Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11. The musician wants to spend as much time as possible with his family as he heartbreakingly admitted he doesn’t know which stages of their lives he wants to live for experience. He added: “They love their dad so they want me to be forever. I want to see my kids get married and I don’t think I’m going to be around for that.

“You never know. So that’s why I want to give them the best of my time while I’m around them. Time together is so wonderful and so precious.” The Royal Variety Performance will be broadcast at 20.00 on ITV and ITVX.