Channel Nine entertainment editor Richard Wilkins has appeared on-air for the first time since his coronavirus diagnosis, sharing his emotional state following the news.
Speaking to the Today Show, Wilkins spoke of his family.
“Last night, having to call my kids and tell them wasn’t much fun,” he said.
“The weird thing is, all you want to do at a time like this, more than anything in the world, is to hug your kids. But it’s the last thing I can do.”
The 65-year-old has five children, but has been in the closest contact with his son Christian, who is currently competing on Dancing with the Stars.
“I called him after his show last night and he was very upset, he’s going to get tested in an hour. Fingers crossed he’ll be okay, which I’m sure he will be,” he said.
In terms of his own health, the veteran journalist said he’s feeling “surprisingly well”.
Watch: Richard Wilkins on his COVID-19 diagnosis. Post continues after video.
“Look, you could have knocked me over with a feather when I [found out]. It took me a couple of minutes to reel from the news,” he said.
“I don’t have a sore throat, I don’t have a runny nose and I don’t have a headache. Maybe I’m going to get sick tomorrow? I’m almost waiting for something to happen. If I can say anything to anybody, it’s that if this is what it’s like, so far so good.”
More significant than the worries about his health, it seems, are his feelings of guilt.
“You feel guilty and embarrassed almost,” he told Today. “I went and did a piece with Fitzy and Wippa last Thursday morning and they’re off air today. I had to phone them last night.”
Wilkins acknowledged that he cannot know for sure how he contracted the virus but the “ripple effect” scares him.
“I pray to God I can get rid of this thing and I pray to God nobody else gets it because of me,” he said.
News broke of Wilkins’ diagnosis on Sunday night.
“It’s actually a bizarre feeling to have tested positive to this thing we’ve all been talking about,” Wilkins wrote on Twitter.
“I feel 100%… no symptoms at all!”
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Rita Wilson was also interviewed by David Campbell and Belinda Russell on Today Extra.
Campbell and Russell were both placed in isolation, but have since been tested for coronavirus and returned negative results.
Feature image: Getty.
Top Comments
How did Richard Wilkins get access to a test if he had NO SYMPTOMS. He has made it very clear numerous times that he has NO SYMPTOMS so how was he tested? Are there different rules for low grade celebrities?
Call me paranoid but I find this very concerning. Firstly how did he manage to get a test without any symptoms? Secondly he has it but no symptoms
But thirdly anyone who has been in contact with hime Is to get tested ONLY if they have symptoms but he still doesn't have any! So doesn't that prove people with no symptoms can be spleading through the community? Plus Scott Morrison won't get tested even though he has been in contact with someone who has it because he has no symptoms! Doesn't this prove otherwise??? I'm dumbfounded