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'Were you worried it was cancer?' Rustie Lee is quizzed by Loose Women panel as she reveals she lost three stone after contracting mystery virus

Published: 10:22 EST, 15 February 2017 | Updated: 12:18 EST, 15 February 2017

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She goes off the beaten track with her latest TV venture, but Rustie Lee admits travelling to remote parts of rural India left her stricken with a mystery virus.

The affable Jamaican chef is one of eight celebrities who visit the tropical country to see if they would consider retiring there in the second series of forthcoming fly-on-the-wall documentary The Real Marigold Hotel.

However Rustie was violently ill after being struck down with a bug that affected her appetite, resulting in the 67-year old losing three stone in weight.

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Health scare: She goes off the beaten track with latest TV venture The Real Marigold Hotel, but Rustie Lee admits travelling to remote parts of rural India left her stricken with a mystery virus

Reflecting on the experience during an appearance on Wednesday’s edition of Loose Women, she said: ‘I am absolutely brilliant, mind you the brilliance isn’t the brilliant I really wanted.

‘After going to India for the Real Marigold Hotel I managed to pick up a virus or a bug or something and in the second week I went there I started looking at food and saying “Oh no I can’t eat it.” I was really, really poorly.’

Admitting she had no regrets about her trip, she added: 'I was wanting to try everything cause its such an adventure, going to India. I wanted do everything.

Nasty: Rustie was violently ill after being struck down with a bug that affected her appetite, resulting in the 67-year old losing three stone in weight

On the mend: Reflecting on the experience during an appearance on Wednesday’s edition of Loose Women, she said ‘I am absolutely brilliant, mind you the brilliance isn’t the brilliant I really wanted'

'It was worrying because it wasn't getting better - I had all the antibiotics. I was still looking at food and my stomach was really contracting at it.'

Quizzed by panelists Andrea McLean, Jane Moore, Anne Diamond and Lisa Riley, the lovable TV cook was asked if she feared her illness was cancer related.

'It didn't come into my consciousness to think about it,' she replied. 'They took biopsies and the doctors didn't find anything thank God but they thought a parasite had gone in and they said I could be ill for 18 months.

Concerns: Quizzed by panelists Andrea McLean, Jane Moore, Anne Diamond and Lisa Riley, the lovable TV cook was asked if she feared her illness was cancer related

All clear: 'It didn't come into my consciousness to think about it,' she replied. 'They took biopsies and the doctors didn't find anything thank God but they thought a parasite had gone in and they said I could be ill for 18 months'

'I've lost about three stone and I feel really really good. I now understand eating problems and that.

'It makes me understand about looking at food and being frightened. it's brought it home to me a lot more.'

Rustie also took the opportunity to reflect on he late parents, with whom she was reunited aged four after following them to Midlands city Birmingham from her native Portland, Jamaica in the early fifties.

Looking back: Rustie also took the opportunity to reflect on he late parents, with whom she was reunited aged four after following them to Midlands city Birmingham from her native Portland, Jamaica in the early fifties

Laid to rest: Speaking to the panel, she admitted to ensuring they were buried side by side after her mother - Rustie's last surviving parent - lost a prolonged battle with dementia

Speaking to the panel, she admitted to ensuring they were buried side by side after her mother - Rustie's last surviving parent - lost a prolonged battle with dementia.

'Originally I bought two funeral plots for my mum but I didn't feel comfortable with that so I had my dad exhumed and had him placed with my mum and had a separate funeral with them both,' she explained.

'We had another funeral with joy and laughter and a great send off . I have total comfort cause I know my mum and dad are together.

'I dream of them and when you dream about your loved ones, because they can't contact you, you know that they're there for you.'

Loose Women continues on Thursday at 12:30pm on ITV1.

New show: The affable Jamaican chef is one of eight celebrities who visit the tropical country to see if they would consider retiring there in the second series of forthcoming fly-on-the-wall documentary The Real Marigold Hotel