Busted star James Bourne's brother Chris reveals the singer was losing his sight before undergoing life-saving kidney transplant as he shares new health update

Busted star James Bourne had begun to lose his sight before he underwent a life-saving kidney transplant, his brother Chris has revealed.

The singer, 43, shared last month that he was given the vital organ by his sibling after being warned by doctors he only had 'a few years left to live.'

James shared that his 'hero' sibling saved him by donating him a kidney, and they were both now in a six-week recovery stage. 

Chris has now revealed that almost immediately after the surgery, James began to feel better, and even his vision had improved after admitting he had struggled to see the clock in his hospital room.

He said: 'We were in adjoining rooms that were identical and we both had a clock on the wall at the end of our beds which was driving us both insane as we waited to go into surgery.

'When James went in, he said he had trouble reading the clock. But when he came out of the operation and was taken to his room, he could see the clock.'

Busted star James Bourne had begun to lose his sight before he underwent a life-saving kidney transplant, his brother Chris has revealed

He told The Sun: 'The whole process of receiving a new kidney isn't as instant as that. But for some things, it's pretty instantaneous. It's incredible.'

Chris added that James is doing 'really well' since the surgery, and he said it was he, and his siblings Melissa and Nick who all put themselves forward as kidney donors.

The musician had stepped in for James on the first dates of the Busted tour when he was forced to pull out due to his health concerns.

James first spoke about the kidney transplant on his Spotify account: 'Wow, what the hell happened? One minute you're heading out on tour, the next thing you know you're on the bench and out of the game.

'My condition was serious and the doctors told me l had a few years left to live.

'I'm happy to share now that my youngest brother, Chris, who stepped in for me on tour last year, has saved my life yet again. This time quite literally by donating me one of his kidneys.

'I can't believe how much better I'm starting to feel already. I'm still going to need some time, but I wanted you to know that we're both recovering from surgery just fine. My brother is a hero.'

James continued to praise his younger brother as he shared a selfie on social media and quipped 'I'm still alive and kicking.'

The singer shared last month that he was given the vital organ by his sibling after being warned by doctors he only had 'a few years left to live'

He added in an accompanying post on X: 'Health update. I'm still alive and kicking and it's all thanks to my brother.' 

James didn't go into detail about his condition but revealed in September he was awaiting 'life-extending' surgery. 

The musician has kept a low profile ever since he pulled out of the band's tour with McFly last year.

His bandmates Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis told fans at the time how James was 'really f****** sick'.

As Busted appeared on stage, Matt said: 'Okay, you may have noticed our best friend is not here tonight. James Bourne is really f***ing sick and we love him and we miss him.'

James announced in a statement that he had to quit the tour due to health reasons.

He wrote on Instagram: 'The VS tour kicks off tomorrow night in Birmingham and as excited as l've been all year for this tour to begin.

'I'm really sorry to say that over the last 8 days it has become clear that I am not in good enough health to play these shows:-(

'There's a lot of information I still don't have about my condition but my bandmates, management and I are unanimous in deciding that I should focus on the medical stuff for now.

'I really hope I can be in a position to come back further down the line. It's still going to be an amazing show and I will miss being there! See you all as soon as possible.'

McFly achieved 18 consecutive UK top 20 singles, seven of which peaked at number one in the UK Singles Chart. They also won the 2005 Brit Award for Best British Pop Act.

Meanwhile, Busted from Southend-on-Sea, enjoyed four UK number one singles, won two Brit Awards, and sold over five million records worldwide.

In 2013, the two bands combined to become a six-piece pop-punk supergroup called McBusted, albeit without lead vocalist and guitarist Charlie, who wanted to focus on his rock band Fightstar and a solo career.