Miranda Hart reveals she was 'housebound' for the past few years due to a chronic illness

Miranda Hart has opened up about the chronic illness that left her "housebound" for years following the end of her hit BBC TV show Miranda.

The Spy star said it took her years for her to be diagnosed with Lyme disease, and even longer to figure out how to improve her health.

Hart, 51, spoke about her break from the spotlight on The One Show.

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"It's not been the most pleasant few years, I've mainly been in bed or housebound with chronic illness, so yeah, it's been a tough few years," she said, but noted it "hasn't been all doom and gloom, there's been some joys as well."

Hart told The Times, "I lost my joy and know that I hadn't enjoyed my career in the way that I knew I could have if I hadn't been ill.

"I was housebound and bedbound for years. I didn't have a job, I didn't have a social life. I didn't have any responsibilities or identities."

Hart has also chronicled her health battle in her new book I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You.

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She expressed her excitement at returning to TV on The One Show, saying, "Once you've been in bed and housebound with a fatigue-based chronic illness that takes a long time to be diagnosed, which sadly I know a lot of people will know, you miss life a lot."

"So I'm thrilled to be sitting here."

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Hart said it took years of research to discover 10 "keys, or I call them treasures" to living well that have helped her.

"I feel that despite the suffering it came from I'm living a life of joy and meaning and fulfillment in a way I've never lived before," she said.

"I feel like I know who I honestly am in a way that I needed to."

Hart also shared the news she was recently married, dramatically moving a ring to her ring finger on-air.

"I got married at 51," she shared.

"It's just so lovely. I'd written Gary for on-screen Miranda and it wasn't until I was 49 that I met my person.

"He's my best friend, we have the best fun and I'm just thrilled to be a young bride at 51."

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Hart said she wants readers to feel "hope" after reading her new book.

"I really, really wanted to met someone, I didn't want to do life on my own anymore, and I kind of admitted that to myself and I tell that story in the book, the fact that I could meet somebody is not sort of a rom-com story but it's hope," she said.

"Whatever situation you're in ... there's always hope."

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