Harry Enfield has revealed his love of cold water swimming has left him with a serious health issue.
The actor, 65, best known for shows like Harry Enfield & Chums and Harry & Paul, told how he is now partially deaf thanks to his hobby.
The star went to the doctor's to have a hearing aid fitted and learned that he suffers from exostosis or 'surfer's ear', bony growths that develop in the ear canal, triggered by exposure to cold water.
© Photo: Getty ImagesHarry believes the condition developed as a result of his regular trips to Highgate Ponds in north London.
Speaking on the Off Menu podcast, Harry said: "I'm partially deaf and, because I swim in Highgate Ponds, I've got stalactites in my ear.
"They've got tiny little hearing aids you can get now and apparently they're very good. They cost a fortune, but they're worth having. So I went to get them fitted.
"They said, 'No, you've got big bones - stalactites - that have grown in your ears. Do you do a lot of fresh water swimming?' I said, 'Well, yeah.' They said, 'Ah, that's what it is.'"
The stalactites in his ears can be "chopped off" but the actor admitted he would "sooner not hear what you're saying" as the surgery can be "painful".
Stars who love cold water swimming
Several celebrities are fans of cold water plunges. Harry Styles has been said to take outdoor swims for mental clarity while Lady Gaga is a fan of ice baths to help manage chronic pain.
© Alamy Stock PhotoKate Middleton is also a huge fan of the practice and spoke about it on Mike Tindall's The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast.
"The colder, the better. I absolutely love it. Slightly to the point where William's like, 'Catherine, you're crazy.' And it's dark, and it's raining."
Fearne Cotton has spoken openly about how much cold water swimming helps her mental health, writing on Instagram in March 2022: "In the last week, I’ve upped my cold water therapy. I managed to get to the sea at the weekend and then took a dunk in my mate's ice bath yesterday.
"Each time it gets a little easier and each time I’m more aware of the benefits."
She continued: "My anxiety has been sky high this last week so these moments where my brain can only focus on my deep breaths have been necessary."
Studies support the mental health benefits of cold water therapy too. Research by Swim England for World Mental Health Day found that of those who partake in cold water swimming regularly, 43 per cent said it made them feel happier, 26 per cent felt more motivated to complete daily tasks and 15 per cent said life felt more manageable after cold water therapy.
While the practice has many benefits, it can also come with risks, such as restricting your ability to move and breathe, according to NHS Scotland.
