Dr Ranj pulls out of BBC Morning Live as he slams ‘anti-vax plonkers’
Dr Ranj Singh has hit out at ‘anti-vax plonkers’ after trolls claimed his recent hospital visit was related to vaccinations.
The former This Morning doctor – who previously spoke out about ITV’s ‘toxic culture’ – was due to appear on BBC Morning Live on Tuesday to discuss Norovirus. Presenter Gethin Jones announced to viewers that Dr Ranj would be unable to make the show and Dr Xand – Alexander van Tulleken – would be standing in for him.
Addressing viewers, Gethin said: “Dr Ranj was meant to be here today but unfortunately he is not feeling so well so Dr Xand is joining us from the set of Operation.”
Dr Ranj, 44, made his return to Twitter this week to address conspiracy theories regarding his illness, and told those relating it to vaccinations to “give their heads a wobble”. The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant captioned a screenshot from his Instagram Stories: “FYI… for the anti-vax plonkers on here. Honestly, give your heads a wobble.”
The statement from the Morning Live star reads: “A little health update… Unfortunately I had dehydration after a bout of food poisoning. Luckily I got great care from our NHS and was discharged home after some fluids to recover! Unfortunately there are some absolute plonkers on social media (Twitter) who think my recent hospital stay was something to do with vaccines. It wasn’t. Honestly, get a grip!”
This comes after Dr Ranj left Twitter last month, telling his followers on July 6: “I think it’s finally time to say goodbye to Twitter… It started off as such a fun place, but it’s become horribly unkind. I’ll still have this account but won’t be posting/engaging anymore. Catch me over on Insta (where it’s much nicer)!”
He also encouraged others to be ‘mindful’ with what they say about Phillip Schofield so things don’t go ‘too far’. He worked alongside Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning after joining in 2016 but later departed the show after lodging a formal complaint.
Speaking to MailOnline, he said: “I never agree with trolling ever – I don’t think it’s acceptable.
“I don’t necessarily agree with what has happened with Phillip and what he has done, and as Carolyn McCall has said, it was inappropriate, but I think we have to careful when we are responding to people like that, that we don’t go too far.”
He continued: “I agree it’s not an easy place to be for him, and we have to be mindful of that. He’s still a human-being and has feelings and it’s not an easy thing to be on the other side of that. I think we all need to all be a bit more mindful about how we interact with each other.”
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