Elton John Shares his Struggle with Blindness On Stage at West End Show, Encourages The Devil Wears Prada Cast

Sir Elton John has confirmed his eyesight has gone after addressing guests at London’s Dominion Theatre on Sunday evening, where he was among guests for the red carpet launch of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical

The legendary musician, who was accompanied by husband David Furnish, made the surprise admission as he took to the stage, weeks after revealing an infection had left him partially sighted. 

He said: ‘As some of you may know I have had issues and now I have lost my sight. I haven’t been able to see the performance but I have enjoyed it.’ 

Sir Elton, 77, was assisted offstage by Furnish, 62, with the icon crediting his husband for helping him since his eyesight faltered.  

He added: ‘To my husband who’s been my rock because I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews… it’s hard for me to see it but I love to hear it and it sounded good tonight OK. Thank you for coming!’ 

The musical previously legend revealed he lost eyesight in his right eye in the summer in France and as a result can’t see, read or watch anything.

Speaking to ABC News about his new documentary Never Too Late, Elton admitted he wasn’t sure about his ability to record any new music, as he puts all his focus on his health.

He said: ‘It’s been a while since I’ve done anything. I just have to get off my backside. I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France.

‘It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see. And my left eye is not the greatest. So there’s hope and encouragement that it will be okay, but I’m kind of stuck at the moment.

‘Because I can do something like this, but going into the studio and recording I don’t know, because I can’t see a lyric for a start.

‘We’re taking an initiative to try and get it better, but at the moment that’s really what we’re concentrating on.’

The acclaimed singer-songwriter candidly went on: ‘It’s never fortunate for anything like this to happen. And it kind of floored me and I can’t see anything, I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything.’

However, showing his inherent positive attitude, Elton voiced his gratitude for his life, saying: ‘I’m so lucky, I’m the luckiest man in the world.

‘I’m so proud of the documentary, I’m proud of my sons, I’m proud of my attitude towards myself and what’s going on. I’m just very lucky and very grateful.’ 

As well as his current sight issues, Elton has faced a multitude of other health issues, after he had both knees replaced as well his right hip following a fall, which forced him to delay his farewell tour in 2021.

The Rocket Man hitmaker, who played his final shows last summer at Glastonbury, revealed his eyesight issues in September.

He took to his Instagram with a lengthy post, explaining how he spent the past few months ‘recuperating at home.’

Elton wrote: ‘Over the summer, I’ve been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye.

‘I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.

‘I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks.’

Elton concluded: ‘I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far.’

It comes after the EGOT winner admitted ‘I don’t know how much time I have left’ as he opened up about death in his new documentary last month.

In a scene from Never Too Late, Elton pondered his own mortality as he confessed he often thinks about life and death.

The Mirror revealed one scene from the film sees the musician sitting in the dressing room on his final tour and looking at his possession.

He then admits: ‘I wonder what is going to happen to all of this stuff when I finish? This is the latter time of my life. I don’t know how much time I have left.

‘You think about that more when you get to my age. You think about life and death. You think, ‘Well, I just want to be where I want to be now’.’

He added: ‘I don’t have to work after this. I will work and do records and putting radio shows together but travelling takes so much out of you.

‘It is very tiring. I am used to it. I am a veteran at it but this is where you start to think about mortality.’

The musical features an original score by Sir Elton, lyrics by Shaina Taub, and book by Kate Wetherhead.

Reflecting on why he decided to write the musical’s score, the musician told RadioTimes.com: ‘The film is a classic and it’s aged brilliantly and fashion and music go together so well, so there were so many scenes in the film that were crying out for music. It was a no brainer for me.

‘It’s fantastic to be able to write for this kind of musical because it’s not Shakespeare, it’s absolutely so much fun.

‘It’s got fantastic costumes, an incredible cast, and brilliant choreography.’

While Sir Elton’s career as a musical theatre composer is slightly less famous than his singing, he is responsible for some of the best musical theatre scores in history.

The Lion King, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, earned him an Oscar, as well as the original West End run of Billy Elliot in 2005.

The much anticipated show, which is based on the 2006 comedy starring Meryl Streep, saw a throng of A-listers hit the red carpet including Elizabeth Hurley, her dashing son Damian, Lily Collins and Vogue boss and rumoured inspiration for the original novel Anna Wintour.

Actress Elizabeth, 59, looked sensational in an eye-catching semi-sheer beaded gown gown which boasted a plunging neckline and teased a glimpse of her jaw-dropping figure beneath. 

She opted for chic jewellery as well as gold accessories as she slipped her feet into a pair of towering platform heels while toting her essentials for the evening in a metallic clutch.

Meanwhile Damian, 22, whose god father Sir Elton wrote the show’s music, cut a dashing figure in all black ensemble, which boasted a long black leather trench and matching trousers.

Emily In Paris star Lily, 35, who is appearing in West End play Barcelona, looked sensational as she slipped into a very revealing Vivienne Westwood Couture sequinned gown. 

The stunner put on a very leggy display in the eye-popping outfit which featured a racy thigh-high split as well as a cleavage enhancing Bardot neckline. 

Lily forwent jewellery and let the dazzling gown speak for itself as she posed up a storm with dashing husband Charlie McDowell, 41, whom she wed in 2021.

Vogue’s Anna, 75, looked effortlessly stylish in a navy bejewelled gown and satin emerald overcoat which she wore with dazzling diamonds and her trademark dark glasses. 

Fans of the hit film The Devil Wears Prada have long assumed that Meryl Streep’s fashion editor character Miranda Priestly was based on Anna, which in the musical is played by Vanessa Williams, 61.

However back in 2019 co-star Emily Blunt said the Oscar winner did not use the Vogue editor as inspiration and told the NPR podcast: ‘Meryl didn’t actually base it on Anna Wintour. Well, she told Anna that. She based it on two men in Hollywood that she knew – who will remain nameless, but I know who they are. That’s all.’

The film, which was based on Lauren Weisberger’s book of the same title, was said to be loosely based on the author’s real experiences of working at glossy fashion magazine.

The film took over £250 million at the box office, earning Meryl Streep an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the glacial fashion magazine editor, with rumours of a sequel in the works.

Elsewhere on the red carpet Claire Sweeney broke her silence exclusively to MailOnline about her split from Ricky Hatton – as she made a glamorous appearance on the red carpet.

The couple recently ended their relationship of eight months, which saw them date in secret after starring on ITV‘s Dancing On Ice and enjoy a Tenerife holiday in May. 

But since their summer getaway, the boxer, 46, and former Brookside actress, 53, have parted ways – months after Claire spoke about how they bonded over humour and their joint love of TV sitcom Only Fools and Horses. 

The pair were last pictured together on November 13 in Manchester while attending the musical version of the hit sitcom, which is currently on a UK tour.

But speaking about the split for the first time she told MailOnline: ‘I’m great – we’re still friends, we were friends, we dated and now we’re friends again. It’s all good!’

At the event she turned heads in a busty white sparkling dress which she wore with a matching sheer cape and silver heels.

She wore her blonde tresses styled into a perfect bouncy blow dry and opted for a pop of red lip for the night out.

Coronation Street actress Claire previously explained she and Ricky had known each other for 25 years before sparks flew between them while the boxing champion said it was ‘nice’ they were able to connect following the end of their respective relationships.

Claire had been single following her separation from ex-Daniel Reilly, with whom she shares son Jaxon, in 2017, and Ricky, who has three children, was a free agent after his romance with beautician Angela Blemmings ended two years ago.

Elsewhere on the red carpet Arlene Phillips, 81, who was famously a Strictly Come Dancing judge for four years, voiced her admiration for Pete Wicks.

Giving her thoughts on the remaining contestants, she admitted she was a big fan of ‘fearless’ comedian Chris McCausland and ‘stunning’ Love Island star Tasha Ghouri.

And despite ending up at the bottom of the leaderboard for three week in a row, Arlene defended Pete’s efforts and praised his ability to poke fun at himself, as she referenced his infamous pink latex trousers during Blackpool Week.

Speaking to MailOnline at the star-studded musical premiere, she said: ‘I actually admire [Pete]. He is trying so hard and anyone who will wear pink trousers – so tight, bare chest, come on! That’s hilarious! And he doesn’t mind sending himself up.’

Discussing the upcoming final and who she was placing her bets on to nab the Glitterball, Arlene said: ‘I am excited. I think anyone could win. 

‘I love Chris because he’s so fearless and Tasha’s stunning. But they’re all great and anyone can win, because it’s all about who the public fall in love with.’ 

While the movie’s  original cast hasn’t been confirmed to return yet for a sequel, the reported plot description hints that both Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestley) and Emily Blunt (Emily Charlton) would be back, according to Variety.  

The sequel’s story will follow Priestley and her career in present day as traditional magazine publishing is on the decline. 

She squares off with Charlton, who is said to be a high-powered executive for a luxury group, as Priestley is chasing that company’s ad dollars.

None of the reports have mentioned if Anne Hathaway would return as Andrea ‘Andy’ Sachs, or if other supporting cast members would return such as Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Adrian Grenier, Gisele Bundchen and Tracie Thoms.