I too was wondering the same. Can't believe it is just an overdose of painkillers. He seemms to be going down the same route as John Diammond. Maybe it is cancer of the tongue. He definately had speech problems. Perhaps a stroke but I am sure we would have heard. Watching this space.
On 31st December 2008 Smith appeared on Celebrity Mastermind. He was noted to have an issue with his speech which sounded as though he had suffered a stroke. People linked this to his addiction to ibuprofen in 1999. However, Griff Rhys Jones had already stated in an earlier television appearance that Smith was suffering the effects of the early stages of Parkinson�s Disease
To Puddicat:- he was one of 'their' worst passengers; and yes I too thought he was suffering from a debilitating illness. Did no-one else notice his weight loss?