Hospital: Lisa Snowdon fell lill with meningitis after turning on Bond Street Christmas lights (pictured). She is now recovering
Model and DJ Lisa Snowdon was last night recovering in hospital after being diagnosed with viral meningitis.
The 38-year-old brunette, who features in the Marks & Spencer Christmas advertisements, fell ill with flu-like symptoms last Friday and was rushed to hospital, hours after she had switched on the Bond Street Christmas lights in London.
A friend told the Daily Mail: ‘Lisa was feeling rotten for a good few days.
'On Thursday night she switched on the lights and she was clearly unwell and struggling to hold it together.
'She had flu symptoms, major aches and pains and a migraine.
‘She then had to go on to host a dinner. But after that she just fell apart and she went to the doctor and was immediately checked into hospital.
'They then diagnosed her with viral meningitis.
’
Miss Snowdon has this week been forced to miss the daily breakfast show she hosts with Johnny Vaughan on Capital Radio.
The Saturdays singer Frankie Sandford is believed to be standing in for Lisa this morning.
The friend added: ‘Lisa’s unlikely to be returning to the breakfast show next week as well.
‘She is now on the mend, but she’s still in hospital. The doctors have warned her this takes a long while to recover from.’
Viral meningitis is the more common and less serious type of meningitis, as opposed to the deadly bacterial form.
Symptoms are often mistaken for flu and sufferers usually recover within a couple of weeks after plenty of rest and painkillers for the often accompanying headache as well as anti-nausea medication.
Symptoms are often mistaken for flu and sufferers usually recover within a couple of weeks
Miss Snowdon, who once dated George Clooney, revealed this summer that she fears she is part of the growing phenomenon of single, attractive and successful women who have everything except a partner.
Her hectic work schedule, she said, has left her unable to meet potential partners, adding: ‘I’m single. I haven’t had a boyfriend for five years. It’s me. It’s my problem.’
‘Now I’m thinking not when it’s going to happen, but if it’s ever going to happen at all.
Star: Miss Snowdon with Scarlett McDonagh, 10, a patient at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, during the event
‘It’s scary to imagine that maybe there’ll be no husband, no baby, no wedding - and that’s it.’
But she added: ‘‘I’m a happy person. I love my family, I love my job and maybe I just have to be at peace with that. Perhaps that’s my fate, who knows.’
However, her career continues to go from strength to strength and she signed a lucrative deal to model for M&S earlier this year.
Miss Snowdon is now one of the stars of the high-street store’s feel-good festive advert, featuring Dannii Minogue, models Twiggy and Ana Beatriz Barros alongside singer VV Brown, former footballer Jamie Redknapp and comedian Peter Kay.
The 90-second advert sees the celebrity cast dancing to the Bee Gees track, You Should Be Dancing.
Model: Miss Snowdon (left) with Dannii Minogue and VV Brown in the latest Marks and Spencer advert
The lively montage also sees X Factor judge Miss Minogue and Miss Snowdon in 1920s style flapper dresses, dancing the Charleston in an homage to the musical Chicago.
While the pair and Miss Brown are then seen clad in pyjamas and hair rollers, singing into their hairbrushes.
A spokesman for Miss Snowdon said: ‘Lisa was taken into hospital on Friday and has been diagnosed with viral meningitis.
‘She is now on the mend, but is unlikely to be returning to the breakfast show next week.’
Happier days: Lisa, who once dated actor George Clooney, hasn't had a boyfriend for five years
source:dailymail