Race Across the World's Stephen and Viv 'pushed each other' after health issues

Race Across the World's Stephen had a heart attack and Viv had a stroke

Lily Waddell
·Entertainment News Editor
·4 min read
Stephen and Viv on Race Across the World
Race Across the World's Stephen and Viv 'pushed each other' after health trouble. (BBC)
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Race Across the World's Stephen and Viv "pushed each other" to get through their health struggles.

Stephen suffered a heart attack in 2006 and Viv had a stroke in 2011 which spurred the married couple to transform their lives. Now they are sharing their story and positive outlook on life with the nation as they star on Race Across the World.

In an interview with Yahoo, Stephen said he was more worried about Viv's stroke than she was and she was more concerned about his heart attack than he was.

Stephen said: "I think each of us looks after each other in opposite ways. I was more bothered and anxious and scared of Viv’s stroke. And she was similarly more scared about me of me and my heart attack.

"So we pushed each other, rather than pushing ourselves. It didn’t make us do the race but these were triggers that were, if you want, to retire and change our lifestyle more than anything."

Viv said their health troubles encouraged them to seize all the opportunities that come their way. Years after their own individual health struggles, they have got the chance to star on Race Across the World.

In the same interview, she said: "I think it did make us realise that you've only got one life and you really don't know what's going to happen around the corner.

"So you just have to grab everything that every opportunity that you're given and just go for things. There's no point sitting back and saying, 'Oh, I'm not sure'. You've just got to go absolutely go for it."

Race Across the World's Viv got emotional when she reflected on her stroke. (BBC screengrab)
Race Across the World's Viv got emotional when she reflected on her stroke. (BBC screengrab)

Viv had the chance to tell her story on Race Across the World in moving scenes that left fans in tears.

She said: "The last time me and Stephen went on a dolphin watching experience the boat stopped and we had the opportunity to dive into the water which I did."

She added: "The moment I dived the boat went up on the wave, the wave by the time I hit it went down. I hit it really bad on my head. The following day we were due to fly home, on landing I felt a massive headache. It turned out I had a stroke."

Viv further explained: "The fact that I hit my head and the cabin pressure caused a bleed in the brain. I couldn't speak, I couldn't see. It was a long recovery road, it was about eight months."

Race Across The World's Stephen and Viv are competing on the BBC show. (BBC)
Race Across The World's Stephen and Viv are competing on the BBC show. (Studio Lambert)

Viv got emotional when she shared how her stroke had impacted them both. Tearful, she admitted to camera: "Stephen says I'm different but he won't say how... To my mind I'm pretty much recovered but it could have been so different."

The couple had the chance to turn their bad memory into a good one while travelling in Thailand. They went to see the pink dolphins on a boat ride and were totally wowed. Stephen was overwhelmed and in tears of happiness. He concluded: "There were two things we wanted to get out of the race. You wanted me to have an adventure and I wanted you to see how strong you are... So far great. I've had an adventure. You are brilliant. Thank you."

Race Across The World's Stephen spoke about his heart attack
Race Across The World's Stephen spoke about his heart attack. (BBC)

Stephen too also had the time to share his experience of having a heart attack while the cameras were rolling for Race Across the World. He told Viv: "It's not nice. The body doesn't do what it used to do. It hurts more when you do things."

In a piece to camera, he shared what happened when he was having a heart attack.

He said: "I was at school, running up the stairs, to go to the geography department. And I felt a bit out of breath, felt a bit awkward. Came back to the staff room, we went to the doctors and the doctor put an ECG on me.

"And said straight away, 'Lie still, don't move, call an ambulance.' Blue lights and off it went. It was a heart attack."

In an intimate conversation between lovers, the retired teacher said he was given 20 years to live and that was 18 years ago. Viv tearfully said she couldn't imagine life without him.