Andrew Winter illness: What happened?

Andrew Winter illness became a topic of concern after the popular Australian property presenter developed Bell’s palsy in May 2018. The condition caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face and forced him to step away from filming for a short period.

Andrew Winter is best known as the long-time host of Selling Houses Australia. Although his symptoms initially made him fear he was having a stroke, doctors diagnosed Bell’s palsy. He later recovered and returned to his television career.

What illness did Andrew Winter have?

Andrew Winter was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy in 2018. Bell’s palsy is a condition affecting the facial nerve, which can produce sudden weakening or paralysis of one side of the face. Often the symptoms can develop quickly, which makes this condition especially alarming.

The disease impacted Winter’s facial mobility and made his usual television work tough. His face looked different because the muscles on one side of his face were not operating properly. He had to take a temporary vacation from filming to recover.

How did Andrew Winter’s illness begin?

Winter first realised something was wrong after having lunch with a friend. He noticed an unusual feeling around his upper lip. Later, further changes appeared around his eye and other parts of his face.

As the symptoms became more noticeable, Winter became worried that he could be experiencing a stroke. He contacted his wife, Caroline, and went to hospital. After being examined, he learned that Bell’s palsy was causing the facial paralysis.

Did Andrew Winter have a stroke?

Andrew Winter didn’t have a stroke after all, despite fears. His symptoms were of urgent concern because sudden facial paralysis can be connected with a stroke. We required a medical assessment to see what was going on.

Doctors instead diagnosed Bell’s palsy. The two conditions have different causes, although some visible symptoms can appear similar. Sudden facial weakness should always be treated seriously because professional medical assessment is needed to identify the cause.

What is Bell’s palsy?

Bell’s palsy is a condition involving the facial nerve. When this nerve becomes inflamed or affected, the muscles on one side of the face may become weak or temporarily paralysed. This can make smiling, blinking and other facial movements difficult.

Other possible symptoms include a drooping mouth, difficulty closing one eye and changes in taste. The exact cause is not always known, although viral infections have been associated with the condition. Many people gradually recover over several weeks or months.

How Andrew Winter illness affected his career

The Andrew Winter illness diagnosis came at a difficult time professionally. Because his facial movements had been affected, his television commitments were temporarily disrupted. Filming of Selling Houses Australia had to be placed on hold while he recovered.

His condition also prevented him from attending the announcement of the 2018 Logie Awards nominations. Winter had received a Gold Logie nomination, making it an important moment in his television career. However, recovering his health had to take priority.

How long did Andrew Winter take to recover?

Winter’s facial paralysis continued for several weeks, with filming reportedly interrupted for around a month. His facial movement gradually improved, allowing him to return to his normal professional commitments.

By late June 2018, he had recovered enough to attend the Logie Awards. Winter later spoke about making a full recovery from the condition. The health scare therefore became a temporary interruption rather than something that permanently ended his television career.

What did Andrew Winter say about his health scare?

Winter has spoken openly about how frightening the experience was. The sudden changes to his face naturally created concern, especially because he initially thought the symptoms might indicate a stroke.

He later reflected on the experience and expressed relief about his recovery. He also indicated that Bell’s palsy was not necessarily something he could simply have prevented by changing his diet or exercising more.

His family’s support during recovery

Andrew Winter’s wife, Caroline, was with him during an important stage of the health scare. After his symptoms became concerning, he contacted her before seeking medical attention.

Winter generally keeps much of his private family life separate from his television work. However, his experience showed how an unexpected medical problem can quickly affect both family life and professional commitments.

Is Andrew Winter still ill?

There is no reliable public information from the research indicating that Andrew Winter continues to suffer from Bell’s palsy. The widely reported episode occurred in 2018, and Winter subsequently recovered.

He returned to television and continued his career in the Australian property industry. In 2026, Selling Houses Australia reached its 200th episode, with Winter continuing his role alongside Wendy Moore and Dennis Scott.

Who is Andrew Winter?

Andrew Winter is a British-born property expert and television presenter who has become a familiar face on Australian television. He is particularly known for presenting Selling Houses Australia and Love It or List It Australia.

Before becoming a television personality, Winter built extensive experience in the property industry. After relocating to Australia, he became known for combining real estate knowledge with a straightforward presenting style that connected well with Australian audiences.

Andrew Winter’s career after Bell’s palsy

Bell’s palsy did not prevent Winter from continuing his television career. Once his health improved, he returned to filming and remained closely associated with Australian property and lifestyle television.

Selling Houses Australia has become one of the programs most closely connected with his name. Reaching 200 episodes in 2026 was another significant milestone and demonstrated the longevity of both the show and Winter’s role within it.

Can Bell’s palsy return?

Bell’s palsy does not always return after recovery, but recurrence is possible. Australian health information indicates that a small proportion of people who experience the condition may develop it again later.

Recovery can also be different for each person. Some regain facial movement relatively quickly, while others may need several months. In Winter’s case, the researched information does not indicate that he has experienced another publicly reported episode.

Final thoughts

Andrew Winter illness concerns mainly relate to his 2018 diagnosis of Bell’s palsy. The condition caused temporary facial paralysis, disrupted his television work and initially made him fear that he was experiencing a stroke.

Fortunately, Andrew Winter recovered and resumed his successful television career. He remains closely associated with Selling Houses Australia, while his health experience serves as a reminder that sudden facial weakness should always receive prompt medical attention.