Singer James Blunt praises Portsmouth doctors for their work in saving his dad's life during kidney transplant

The 46-year-old music star sang the praises of city medics who gave his father, Colonel Charles Blount, a kidney transplant in January.

The operation is believed to have taken place at Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is now leading the city’s treatment of Covid-19 patients.

Speaking on The One Show, James told how his dad was on the mend following the operation and was ‘doing well’.

He said: ‘Thank you to the amazing surgeons, doctors and nurses. In January, they gave my father a new kidney and he’s now in isolation much healthier and much more positive and thrilled thanks to those guys in Portsmouth.

'It’s really amazing to see the difference immediately that a second-hand kidney can do.'

James is currently in self-isolation in Ibiza, where he described the situation there as a ‘serious lockdown’.

He said: 'You guys, where you're allowed out for an hour, we are locked in all the time. I have nothing to complain about, I have a garden.'

James' latest music video for his song The Greatest is in praise of frontline workers with proceeds from the single going to the NHS and the World Health Organisation.

The musician was unable to give his own kidney as he was not the right blood type, but following a public appeal on Good Morning Britain last year, a donor came forward.

It comes after James spoke about his father during an appearance on Loose Women in February.

He said: 'My dad is doing well. It's an amazing process. About 53 weeks ago a man offered to give him a kidney.

'My father's name is Charles Blount and the man who offered to give him a kidney is a distant cousin of ours called Charlie Blount - which is the same name as him. It's a remarkable thing to do.'

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