Cheryl Fergison has shared a positive health update after being left “absolutely devastated” after a stroke earlier this year. The former EastEnders actress opened up about her challenging recovery journey, which left her unable to speak or walk, during the debut episode of the new podcast Celebrity Skin Talk.

The actress, known for her role as Heather Trott in the iconic BBC series, experienced a stroke in May and was promptly taken to hospital in Blackpool. Since the incident, Cheryl has been working hard to “retrain” her brain as part of her rehabilitation.

In conversation with podcast host Scott McGlynn, Cheryl disclosed that she’s been “doing lots of exercise”, including walking, and encouragingly remarked that she’s been “getting stronger and stronger.”

Reflecting on the aftermath of her stroke, Cheryl confessed that she kept it secret because she feared for her career and didn’t want others to find out, expressing concern that she would be sidelined in her profession.

She detailed: “I felt like people in my industry wouldn’t understand and that they would sort of put me out to graze as an old horse, you know?”

“So, I kind of, with a lot of people and a lot of support, I was kind of getting myself to – because I couldn’t walk at first at all – so it was a lot to adjust to, more so in my head than anything else, you know? So, it was frustrating. I was…literally thought my life had ended.”

Cheryl came to the realisation that, unlike something that takes time to mend like a broken bone, with your brain (although she conceded it would take a long time), you can address it and start the process of “retraining” it.

Explaining how this worked, Cheryl described how she would “keep telling” herself that she could use her “good” hand to perform a task, and then it was a case of retraining her brain for “all those years” she’d “learnt how to do something”.

Reflecting on her experience, Cheryl said: “So, I think it was really frustrating. For the first month, I was like absolutely devastated.”

The 60-year-old television star chose to share her journey in the hope that it will inspire others to realise that with “hard work” and by using the support system around you, recovery is achievable.

Cheryl, who graced the popular soap from 2007 to 2012, has also featured in programmes such as Doctor Who, Little Britain, and The IT Crowd.

In 2015, she underwent surgery for womb cancer; movingly, the late Barbara Windsor (EastEnders legend Peggy Mitchell) covered her living and medical expenses, according to the Independent.

Previously, Cheryl expressed: “I just remember, just weeping, and you have people like this and people don’t know the generosity of people and what they do, it’s amazing. I’m forever grateful.”