Boris Johnson will appear on TV for the first time with his fiancee Carrie Symonds this weekend to thank the NHS staff who saved his life. 

The Prime Minister will praise the ‘utterly brilliant’ team at St Thomas’ Hospital who cared for him during his six day stay in April. 

Mr Johnson was taken into intensive care with coronavirus and very nearly died before recovering to see the couple’s first child born later that same month.

They have nominated nurses Jenny McGee and Luis Pitarma and the maternity team who delivered baby Wilfred for a Pride of Britain award.

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In their first joint television appearance, the couple will thank frontline workers for their ‘courage and dedication’ during the pandemic.

The clip was recorded earlier this week and will be broadcast on Sunday night but has been released to the press in advance.

Ms Symonds said: ‘You continue to provide care for all of us in the very toughest of times and it’s because of you that not only is Boris still here, but that we are proud parents to our sweet baby boy.

‘As a family we have so much to be thankful to the NHS for and we will never stop being grateful.’

The Prime Minister added: ‘Exactly right. So I want to pay thanks to the utterly brilliant team at St Thomas’ Hospital who saved my life.

‘There were many of them, but I want to nominate two nurses in particular, Luis and Jenny.’

Mr Johnson tested positive for the virus on March 26 and went into self isolation in Downing Street. He emerged briefly to ‘clap for carers’ on April 2. 

But just days later he was taken to hospital, initially for tests ‘as a precaution.’ His condition deteriorated and he spent three nights in intensive care. 

With Dominic Raab deputising, the PM slowly began to recover and was moved back to the wards on April 9. 

He was discharged to chequers on April 11 and spent a further two weeks recuperating before returning to work. Ms Symonds gave birth on April 30.

The couple have paid tribute to the medics at St Thomas’ on numerous occasions. They gave Wilfred the middle name ‘Nicholas’ after two NHS doctors who work at the hospital. 

Dr Nick Price and Prof Nick Hart were among the first to send their well wishes after the birth, saying they were ‘honoured and humbled’ at the gesture.

Elsewhere in the Pride Of Britain show, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will present a special recognition award to NHS staff. It will be broadcast on ITV at 9pm on Sunday.

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