Advertisement

Shane MacGowan's wife asks for prayers as Pogues star admitted to hospital

Shane MacGowan poses for photographers upon arrival at the Shane MacGowan, The Eternal Buzz & The Crock of Gold Exhibition in London, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Shane MacGowan has been admitted to hospital. (AP)

Shane MacGowan's wife has asked fans for their prayers after The Pogues star was admitted to hospital.

The 64-year-old Fairytale of New York singer — who has used a wheelchair since he broke his pelvis in 2015 — has suffered a number of medical issues in recent years but hopes to be home for Christmas.

Victoria Clarke, 56, tweeted: "Please send prayers and healing vibes to @ShaneMacGowan in hospital again and really hoping to get out asap!! Thank you."

Read more: Radio 2 to play edited version of Fairytale of New York

Read more: Cheers star Kirsty Alley dead at 71

The punk rocker joined social media platform TikTok a week ago, delighting fans with a video in which he appeared to be reasonably healthy, smiling and saying slowly: "Shane MacGowan on TikTok! I hope you enjoy. God Bless, Shane."

MacGowan, a Roman Catholic, is wearing a black sweatshirt and a large silver crucifix.

DUBLIN, IRELAND - JUNE 01:  Victoria Clarke and Shane MacGowan attend the 50th Anniversary Of 'The Late Late Show' on June 1, 2012 in Dublin, Ireland.  (Photo by Phillip Massey/FilmMagic)
Victoria Clarke and Shane MacGowan in 2012. (Getty Images)

In 2021 he fell and broke a knee, as well as tearing ligaments in his knee joint. In April he confirmed he can no longer walk.

MacGowan has been known to be a heavy drinker for many years and has a reputation for performing while intoxicated. He also has a history of drug abuse. These contributed to his poor health and he lost the last of his own teeth around 2008.

In 2016 Clarke reported he was sober "for the first time in years", citing a serious bout of pneumonia and a long stay in hospital as the main contributing factor.

Portrait of British musician Kirsty MacColl (1959 - 2000) and Irish musician Shane MacGowan, the latter of the group the Pogues, as they pose together, each holding a toy gun with one hand and, in the other, a Christmas cracker over an inflatable Santa Claus, 1987. (Photo by Tim Roney/Getty Images)
Kirsty MacColl and Shane MacGowan collaborated on Fairytale of New York in 1988. (Tim Roney/Getty Images)

MacGowan was pictured at a party in October this year vaping and holding a glass of champagne, while posing for pictures with Clarke and the supermodel Kate Moss.

Johnny Depp is a friend of The Pogues star and said in an interview last year: "The one thing I learned is never, ever try to keep up with Shane MacGowan."

The Irish singer married journalist Clarke in 2018 having been in a relationship for more than 35 years including an 11-year engagement.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 05:  Shane MacGowan of The Pogues performs on stage at British Summer Time Festival>> at Hyde Park on July 5, 2014 in London, United Kingdom.  (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
Shane MacGowan performing in London's Hyde Park in 2014. (Getty Images)

Read more: Fairytale Of New York Singer Doesn't Understand Why F-Word Slur Is 'Insulting To Gays'

They tied the knot at City Hall in the Danish capital of Copenhagen and live together in Dublin.

Depp attended the ceremony and sang at their wedding.

Watch: Helena Bonham Carter believes Johnny Depp has been vindicated