In addition to these ailments, he suffered from chronic indigestion, lumbago, sciatica, bronchitis (he chain-smoked 40 cigars a day) and severe circulation problems in his legs. When Cooper realised the full extent of his injuries he did cut down on his drinking and the effect was dramatic - the energy and sparkle returned to his act and some of his later television performances were a revelation. However, he never stopped drinking and could be worryingly fallible, on an otherwise triumphant appearance with Michael Parkinson he forgot to set the safety catch on the guillotine illusion which he cajoled Parkinson into. Only a last-minute intervention by the producer saved Parkinson's life.
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