Dame Prue Leith has recalled being rushed to hospital after suffering a health scare.
The 86-year-old chef and former Great British Bake Off judge was on holiday in Yorkshire when she experienced a migraine that left her struggling to speak and her husband, John Playfair, fearing she might be having a stroke.
John decided to call Dame Prue's doctor, who then rang for an ambulance.
She described the experience in her column for The Oldie magazine, revealing it began as a typical migraine before taking a worrying turn.
Dame Prue Leith rushed to hospital over stroke fears
Dame Prue said: "A few weeks ago, staying in Yorkshire, I had a migraine attack.
"It followed a familiar path.
"First, I can see only half of whatever I'm looking at.
"This is speedily followed by a bright circle of flickering, coloured lights in the upper right field of vision.
"If I don't swiftly swallow one of my migraine 'bombs' (three pills: paracetamol, ibuprofen and sumatriptan), a crashing headache will follow."
Although Dame Prue has experienced migraines since childhood and always carries medication, this episode came with a "rare" symptom - her speech went "bananas".
She said: "This time, my incomprehensible jumble of disconnected words convinced John I was having a stroke.
"I tried to tell him it was just a migraine, but I couldn't string two words together."
She added: "He rang our doctor, who asked me, could I raise my arms? Yes.
"Make a fist? Yes.
"Did anything hurt? No.
"Was the side of my face drooping? No.
"In spite of my answers, she ordered an ambulance to take me to Harrogate Hospital."
After being assessed by a paramedic and nurse, Dame Prue waited several hours to see a doctor and later underwent a CT scan before being discharged after 10 hours.
She praised the NHS staff who cared for her, describing them as "cheerful, sympathetic, polite, helpful and professional."
Dame Prue said: "You may have to wait for ever.
"But when it is your turn, you are treated as if you were the only patient in A&E, with concern and patience."
Writing about the attention paid to her health, she added: "I knew all along that all I had was a migraine.
"But since the speech problem is a classic symptom of a stroke, and my extreme old age being a time when mini strokes are common, everyone was determined to be safe not sorry."
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Dame Prue then said it was "no wonder the nation is devoted to the NHS".
As well as Great British Bake Off, Dame Prue is also known for her role as a judge on the BBC cooking TV show Great British Menu and has been actively involved in food education during her six-decade career.
She was made a Dame in 2021 for her services to food, broadcasting and charity.
The September issue of The Oldie magazine will be released on Friday, August 14.
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