Chris Fountain has been supported by his mum as he revealed he is set to undergo surgery today.
The soap actor is known for his role as Tommy Duckworth in Coronation Street. However, he feared "life as he knew it" was over when doctors discovered he’d had a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) after a blood clot lodged in his brain.
The 35-year-old suffered the mini stroke in August last year and spent five days in a London hospital. Chris has since dedicated himself to raising awareness of the condition and completed the London Marathon last month to raise money for the Stroke Association.
READ MORE: Coronation Street's Helen Flanagan declares love for former co-star as she vows to return
He has taken to Instagram to confirm he is undergoing heart surgery today to treat the hole in his heart that led to the stroke. He said: "So the day's arrived. Just walking to hospital. Got the mother here for moral support. Here we go."
Chris explained the operation to fans after he had a pre-op last month. He said: "What they do is, go in through my groin, go up to my heart and put this thing through where the hole is and it leaves a metal umbrella and they pull it through, it leaves another little metal umbrella at the other side. Then my heart grows around it and hopefully, that should mean no more strokes and I'll have a little bionic heart.
"It's a little bit nerve-wracking as it's a heart procedure but apparently it's 99.9% successful I'll have to take it easy for a week or so after it's done. So yeah, we do a marathon and then we go to do a heart operation, as you do."
Chris shot to fame in 2003 when he landed the role of Justin Burton in Hollyoaks. In 2010, he swapped Chester for Weatherfield when he joined the cast of Corrie as Tommy. His acting career was derailed when he was sacked after being unmasked as a YouTube rapper who had used lyrics that implored violence against women.
Chris has apologised for his actions and said he’s “ashamed and embarrassed” about the language he used during a “moment of madness as a young man”. He said: "I know what I did was wrong, and I’m mortified about it, there is not a day goes by that I don’t regret rapping those lyrics but the situation was not as it was reported and I’m not the person they said I was.
"I think we’ve all done stuff we’re not proud of, we’ve all made mistakes that we hopefully learn from, but it was 10 years ago and for whatever reason, I’m never allowed to forget what I did and move forward.
“It’s so disheartening that any time I try and make a positive step forward or an attempt to move on, it’s like someone’s grabbing me by the neck saying, ‘No, you can’t do that because remember that one mistake you made ten years ago? You’re not allowed’.”
He is now set on rebuilding his TV career. He said: "Acting is all I have ever known. I have worked professionally as an actor since I was 14 and until someone tells me my acting ability is not up to standard I won’t give up on it.
“After everything I’ve been through recently I’m determined not to let people’s opinions of me affect me anymore. I’ve been up for some really big roles recently and I’m getting down to the final stages.
“I don’t know if I’m not getting the roles because I’m just not right for the part or if the powers that be are worried that what happened will bring them bad press. I’ve thought about it non stop for years, but I’m going to stop worrying about what I can’t control any longer.
“I’m just going to keep pushing forward, go for jobs I love and hope that casting directors will see me for the man I am now, not the one mistake I made a decade ago.”
Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here
For more celeb news, videos and pictures follow our designated Facebook page HERE
New Look's £40 polka dot dress that's 'perfect for a wedding'
Eurovision's Sam Ryder taken aback by Liverpool as he calls for permanent change
Eurovision's Scott Mills 'not just saying it' as he issues Liverpool claim on Good Morning Britain
Eurovision's Rita Ora enjoys Liverpool night out with famous husband as fans 'so jealous'
Martin Lewis issues two month pension warning as he urges people to dial number
