TOWIE's Charlie King shares major health update after contracting 'horrible' illness

A reality TV star has shown off a nasty rash he has developed as he revealed a painful health condition. The former The Only Way Is Essex star took to Instagram to share the nasty update with his followers after discovering the rash on his neck.

Charlie King, 40, told his social media followers he has developed shingles. Uploading a snap of his neck to his Stories, Charlie showed his pain rash that was swollen with bumps.

Calling the situation 'proper lousy', Charlie captioned the upload: "Shingles are horrible (It's like being stung by nettles & it not easing off). And he later shared an update to thank his followers for expressing concern over his health situation.

READ MORE: Davina McCall's 'lightning bolt' moment amid Michael Douglas romance

READ MORE: Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble silence split rumours with loved-up display at charity event

He added: "Honestly, thank you. I’ve had so many kind, lovely messages, reassurance. A lot of you have been through it."

Charlie then admitted he didn't have much knowledge of Shingles initially. He continued: "I didn’t know they could really take a hold like they have but in a weird guys, it’s a wake up call because I have been super stressed with numerous things this year and I’ve really let everything consume me, to knock me off balance.

"I was saying this earlier in the week, that I’ve not been to the gym, I haven’t been eating right, I’ve not been de-stressing. I’ve just been kind of going back and forth with things and it’s no good."

He went on: "So I’m on the anti-viral meds and I’ll do what I need to do with this. I just want to feel better, I want to feel alert again and then it’s time to make a bit of a change so that’s what we gotta do."

Shingles, according to the NHS, is an infection that can cause a rash. The health service says that first symptoms include feeling unwell and a tingling sensation on the skin.

Charlie, who first starred on the hit reality TV show in 2012, admitted last year that he was struggling as he watched his co-stars succeed after he suffered a botched nose job. During his time on the show fans were engrossed in the details of his relationship with icon Gemma Collins.

However, Charlie found later himself becoming obsessed with his appearance after quitting the show a year later. And he admitted he ended up in a "dark place" instead of enjoying the success many of the reality show's original cast had.

He confessed he would love to have had some of the opportunities his peers have had - but it just hasn't come to fruition. He told The Sun at the time: "I've watched them all go on all the other shows, a lot of them anyway, and you can't help but question, I wonder why it hasn't quite happened for me, because I'd love to do Dancing On Ice, I'd love to do more presenting.

"I think you can get very caught up in your image, in this day and age, with what you think you need to be, and obviously the social media world that we live in, and my background with reality TV and having a bit of exposure and being in in the spotlight once upon a time, you do get very consumed with how you look."

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Threads .

READ MORE: ‘I’m a fashion writer and these M&S autumn jackets are on my wish-list’