How do TV presenters hide colds?

[EeeewDavid]

This always baffles me. You can usually tell when a TV presenter has a cold because they have the giveaway stuffy voice. But how do they stop their nose running while they're on air?
Whenever I have a cold I feel like it's a constant flow of snot and I have to sit with a tissue practically attached to my face.
And I know they have good makeup artists, but they never look puffy or red eyed.
I know this sounds like a really stupid thing to be thinking about, but they must have a secret.

Bumping for you because I'd like to know! I tend to look like death when I've got a bad cold. I was on a client call recently and had to keep muting myself to cough my guts up. You don't see TV presenters doing that.

I also wonder what they do when they haven't slept well? I struggle to string a sentence together when I'm particularly tired. I assume they arrive at work and neck a few Red Bulls (that's what I do anyway).

They don’t go on air, and have someone fill in for them?

Maybe they aren't prone to them?

I'm not, at all - I can't remember the last time I had a cold like that. Must be years. The only times I've been ill in the past 5 years or so is Covid twice!

I think the same about cold sores?

I take a cocktail of paracetemol and ibuprofen and that chills everything down enough for 'public appearances' at work etc.

Drugs?

There’s an episode of the Crystal Maze from 1991 where Richard O’Brien clearly has a cold (series 2, episode 4, YouTube it). He doesn’t mention it, which is surprising, because it’s the sort of thing he would have done.

Lots of honey and lemon made for them. A Runner constantly asking what they need, what can they get for them.

Blowing nose etc during breaks, during VTs.

Make up artists who are very good at their job and touch up constantly.

‘Dr Footlights’ works magic too.

Richard Osman said on something the other day that people often think quiz show hosts are really sickly because the filming schedule means a three day cold is on screen for three weeks.
I imagine with live TV you take the day off if you are under the weather and prerecorded stuff can be cut around coughing fits, nose blowing etc.

how do they hide their farts i'm sure the microphone would pick it up

They probably take something like Actifed, which dries it all up. I used to take it to still go out to clubs with a cold when I was young and foolish. It works!

Those who make it to mainstream TV presenting are at the top of their game, they have worked their way along and been promoted time and time again. In my experience successful people are not so just because of talent and drive but also thanks to robust immune systems which they take for granted. Anyone who is sick regularly at a junior level is not likely to make it so far.