‘He’s now in isolation much healthier and positive’: James Blunt gives his thanks to NHS workers after his father Charles’ kidney transplant
James Blunt has paid his thanks to NHS workers who gave his father, Colonel Charles Blount, a kidney transplant in January.
The singer, 46, appeared on Thursday’s episode of The One Show where he told how his father is currently on the mend from his operation and is doing well.
He said: ‘Thank you to the amazing surgeons, doctors and nurses. In January, they gave my father a new kidney and he’s now in isolation much healthier and much more positive and thrilled thanks to those guys in Portsmouth.’
Grateful: James Blunt, 46, has paid his thanks to NHS workers who gave his father, Colonel Charles Blount, a kidney transplant in January
‘It’s really amazing to see the difference immediately that a second-hand kidney can do.’
James is currently self-isolating in Ibiza, describing the situation there as a ‘serious lockdown’.
He said: ‘You guys, where you’re allowed out for an hour, we are locked in all the time. I have nothing to complain about, I have a garden.’
James’ latest music video for his song The Greatest is in praise of frontline workers with proceeds from the single going to the NHS and the World Health Organisation.
James said: ‘In January, they gave my father a new kidney and he’s now in isolation much healthier and much more positive’
The musician was unable to give his own kidney as he was not the right blood type, but following a public appeal on Good Morning Britain last year, a donor came forward.
It comes after James spoke about his father during an appearance on Loose Women in February.
He said: ‘My dad is doing well. It’s an amazing process. About 53 weeks ago a man offered to give him a kidney.
‘My father’s name is Charles Blount and the man who offered to give him a kidney is a distant cousin of ours called Charlie Blount – which is the same name as him. It’s a remarkable thing to do.’
Interview: James appeared on Thursday’s episode of The One Show where he told how his father is currently on the mend from his operation and is doing well
‘His transplant was 10 days ago and he went for a walk yesterday. Thanks to a very kind person, he’s got a reprieve.’
Earlier in February, James released a poignant music video for Monsters, an emotive tribute to his fater after discovering his dad had Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease.
In the accompanying video to Monsters, James finds him struggling to control his tears.
Opening with a single frame close up of Blunt, the star’s anguish is clear from the start as he reaches out to fans with plaintive lyrics about saying goodbye.
But as the camera pans out, father Charles is seen sitting directly beside a visibly devastated James as the track draws to a close.
Singer James previously appeared on Loose Women in February and said his father was ‘doing well’ after being donated a life-saving kidney by a man with the same name as him
James admitted that filming with his ‘stoic’ father was tough, and ‘conflicting’ to the military values Charles had instilled in James, but he was ‘thrilled’ to have him on film and was pleased he’ll be able to ‘live with that forever’.
He told Good Morning Britain: ‘I mean it was tough, everyone was crying on the set apart from my father – who was saying “Why are you crying, I’m still here”.
‘But for me, I was just really thrilled to have him on film, actually it was amazing. I’ll be able to live with that forever.
‘It was quite conflicting, because my father is an ex-colonel in the army, helicopter pilot for years and taught me to not cry, and to be crying beside him was strange.’
Family: James was unable to give his own kidney as he was not the right blood type, but following a public appeal on Good Morning Britain last year, a donor came forward