Tomlinson told to have open heart surgery

Comic actor Ricky Tomlinson has been told that he must undergo open heart surgery after further blockages were found in his arteries.

The star, who is best known for his role as couch potato Jim Royle in The Royle Family, had a routine operation on Friday but it was halted when doctors at the Liverpool hospital found more problems.

Tomlinson has now been told that he must have a quadruple bypass, and was warned that bypass surgery may be required following the earlier procedure.

He said: "I thought they had carried out the procedure because I was in the operating theatre for quite some time, about an hour. But apparently they came across a problem in my main artery so I didn't have the complete operation.

"They said they had come across a difficulty and it would be in my interests to have open heart surgery."

He is currently resting at home to wait for an appointment with a specialist to discuss when the surgery will take place.

He joked: "It is frustrating, but I think it is more frustrating for my wife, Rita.

"I was told this operation would make me a new man and Rita says she could do with a new man."