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Neil 'Razor' Ruddock has turned down three reality TV shows due to poor health

The former Liverpool defender says he was asked to do 'Strictly Come Dancing' as well as 'Dancing on Ice' and 'The Jump' but had to turn down all three opportunities

Neil 'Razor' Ruddock has revealed how his deteriorating health issues have seen him lose out on lucrative television appearances on programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing.

The 52-year-old former England footballer recently had a pacemaker fitted after he fell dangerously ill while filming Harry's Heroes.

Ruddock, who represented Liverpool, Tottenham and West Ham, took part in the ITV show with a number of fellow former footballers trying to get fit for a match against the Germans.

But the 23st father of four carried on boozing throughout, even rowing with Arsenal legend Paul Merson about the toll his actions were taking on his own body.

[Neil Ruddock credits his weight loss to musclefoods Do The Unthinkable diet]

Neil Ruddock credits his weight loss to musclefoods Do The Unthinkable diet(Image: Tom Cubis)

Health checks revealed Ruddock was so unhealthy he could drop dead at any moment, words which proved something of a wakeup call.

"We all had a bellyful and I was feeling a bit tired," he said.

"They took me to have a service full oil change in London, and they found my cholesterol was up.

"So I had to change my diet, take a few pills and, you know, I just got on with life as normal.

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Razor Ruddock was told he had to get healthy or face death(Image: Freemantle Media )

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Razor is trying to swap the donuts for more healthy food(Image: Freemantle Media )

Following the devastating medical news, he had a pacemaker fitted and his heart rate is half the speed it was.

The former England international has lost three stone and has cut down on alcohol and cigarettes.

Razor told The Sun: "I was asked to do Strictly but with my knees and arthritis, I wouldn't last two minutes.

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"And Dancing On Ice and The Jump I couldn't do things like that."

The once-voted '17th hardest footballer of all time' has had a long battle with alcohol, once admitting he would sometimes drink three bottles of wine, six pints of larger with double gin and tonic chasers, and four brandies.

He said: "At my worst I was crazy. I was doing three or four bottles of wine a day, easy peasy, plus spirits, beers and cocktails."

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