Sam Bailey thought her career was over when she got Bell’s Palsy.
The 39-year-old singer contracted the illness, which causes facial weakness, two years ago following the birth of her daughter Miley and was convinced she’d never be able to perform again afterwards.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, she said: "It wasn’t very nice, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
"I had it for five weeks and I had to wear an eye patch and my son called me a pirate for a little while.
"I did think maybe I will never sing again because people can have it for up to a year and I didn’t really know what it was going to be like because whenever I sang, one side of my face looked ridiculous. I looked like the mask from ‘Scream’."
And, although two years have passed since she was diagnosed with the illness, the former ‘X Factor’ winner is still suffering with it.
She explained: "I get a twitch in my eye every now and again and I get a pain in my ear sometimes and if I touch behind my ear, it hurts. I have nerve damage. I can’t put an ear piece in that side."
Sam Bailey thought career was over after Bell’s Palsy battle
