Former Gogglebox star Jonathan Tapper was left “fighting for his life” after contracting coronavirus, his wife Nikki has revealed.

Jonathan – who appeared on the Channel 4 show alongside his family until 2018 – has diabetes, which can cause more intense Covid-19 symptoms and complications.

In a new interview with the Daily Star, Nikki revealed that while the whole family has been infected, it’s Jonathan who has been affected the most severely.

“One night Jonathan came home from work and was unable to move,” she explained, stating her husband first experienced symptoms a month ago.

“He had a cough and high temperature. He laid down on the sofa and – with no exaggeration – he stayed there for two weeks in our lounge room.”

Nikki continued: “We tended to him as best we could, but at times he seemed unable to breathe. Having spoken to the doctors, they urged us to stay home, but they said to quickly get an oxygen monitor, which fixed to his finger.”

She went on to say that Jonathan’s diabetes gave them cause for concern, particularly as his symptoms worsened.

“I rushed downstairs and couldn’t believe how pale he was, heaving with every breath,” she said.

“I tried to keep calm, asking him all the time if he could breathe. I felt that I couldn’t think straight because I was so unwell myself at the time too. Amy [their daughter] was crying.

“But I kept vigil through the night and monitored his oxygen levels and luckily, with the help of [NHS helpline] 111, we got through to the next day. I’ve never been so afraid.”

Fortunately, the Tapper family is now on the mend, and resting at home.

The Tappers were among those to have appeared on Gogglebox since its inception in 2013, eventually stepping down after 11 series, five years later.

Josh Tapper, Nikki and Jonathan’s son, bowed out of the show slightly earlier than the rest of his family, after landing a job at 10 Downing Street.

Meanwhile, Amy Tapper has since appeared on the E4 reality series Celebs Go Dating.