Richard Wilkins fought back tears as he spoke of his shock coronavirus diagnosis on Monday’s Today show while at home in self-isolation.
The 65-year-old entertainment reporter told hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon that he felt ‘guilty and embarrassed’ by the fact he may have passed the deadly virus on to others.
Richard, who was speaking via FaceTime, said he wasn’t experiencing any symptoms but feared the worst was yet to come.
‘It is a terrifying thought’: Richard Wilkins fought back tears as he discussed his coronavirus diagnosis via FaceTime on Monday’s Today show while at home in self-isolation
‘I’m surprisingly very well. 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 began.
‘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.’
The Weekend Today host explained that although it’s likely he caught the virus from Tom Hanks’ wife Rita Wilson after meeting her last week, it’s impossible to know.
‘It could be from anyone, anywhere, any time. It is a terrifying thought,’ he added.
‘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 tomorrow?’: He admitted to feeling no symptoms, but is anticipating the worst
Richard appeared emotional talking about revealing his diagnosis to his family.
Fighting back tears, he said: ‘Last night, having to call my kids and tell them wasn’t much fun. 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 reporter has five children, but had only seen son Christian, 24, who is currently competing on Channel 10’s Dancing With The Stars, recently.
‘Wasn’t much fun’: Richard appeared emotional talking about revealing his diagnosis to family. Pictured: Richard with ex Virginia Burmeister, son Christian and stylist Beck Wilson in 2019
The show may not go on: Richard has five children, but had only seen son Christian recently, who is currently on Dancing With The Stars and was tested for coronavirus on Monday morning. Pictured: Christian and dance partner Lily McManus, who has also been tested
‘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,’ said Richard.
Christian spent Sunday night self-isolating with Dancing With The Stars partner Lily McManus before they could get tested for coronavirus on Monday morning.
Channel 10 and producers Warner Bros. had already implemented a number of precautions to protect the DWTS cast and crew ahead of Sunday’s episode.
‘You feel guilty and embarrassed almost. 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,’ continued Richard.
‘The ripple effect of this thing is enormous. I pray to god I can get rid of this thing and I pray to god nobody else gets it because of me.’
‘The ripple effect’: Richard was with Nova’s Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli and Angela Bishop (pictured) last week. Fitzy and Wippa were off-air on Monday as a result
‘I pray to god nobody else gets it because of me’: Richard shared a photograph with Olivia Newton-John and actor Paul Hogan (pictured) last Tuesday, who are both now at risk
As well as recording with Nova’s Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, Richard shared a photograph with Olivia Newton-John, 71, last Tuesday.
The Grease star’s history with cancer – she’s had three diagnoses since 1992 – could put her at an increased risk of being affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Richard met Tom Hanks’s wife Rita Wilson backstage at her Sydney Opera House concert on March 7, where is suspects he caught the virus.
‘It could be from anyone’: Richard explained that although it’s likely he caught the virus from Tom Hanks’ wife Rita Wilson (pictured) after meeting her last week, it’s impossible to know
On home soil: In Australia, there have been a total of 298 confirmed cases of coronavirus