Sir John Mills on the mend

Sir John Mills confesses to liking hospital food

Veteran actor Sir John Mills is recovering well after falling ill from a chest infection, his pop star grandson has revealed.

Crispian Mills, former lead singer with Kula Shaker, told BBC News Online that his famous grandfather was still recuperating in Scotland after a week long stay in hospital.

"He's on the mend. He's 94 and when you get a little infection, it becomes much more serious," said Mills, who is now fronting a new band called The Jeevas.

"But he's got a real will to live and he's still enthusiastic and it just gets him through. He's doing well," he added.

Crispian Mills is fronting a band called Jeevas

Sir John was taken ill during a holiday at Skibo Castle in the Scottish Highlands in August and was admitted to hospital for treatment where was diagnosed with a chest infection.

On leaving the hospital, he said he felt fit and well and thanked the staff who had put him on the road to recovery.

He even joked about the hospital food, saying it was a myth to say it was not good, going as far as to call it "excellent".

Sir John went to recuperate at the Caithness home of the parents of his assistant, Patricia Horrocks.

Oscar winner

It was the latest health scare for Sir John after he cracked two ribs in a fall in November 2001 at his home in Denham, Buckinghamshire.

He is regarded as one of the UK's greatest living acting luminaries, and won an Oscar for his role in Ryan's Daughter in 1971.

Sir John is almost blind after his retinas in both eyes failed while he was touring with his one-man show in 1992.

But film fans have recently seen him looking relatively active at events in 2002, including the Bafta film awards and on Jonathan Ross's BBC TV chat show.

In 2001, 400 other actors attended a special dinner to honour his career.

His first film role was in 1932, and he has since made more than 120 screen appearances, including acclaimed roles in 1946's Great Expectations, 1960's Tunes of Glory and Gandhi in 1982.

His last role was alongside Nigel Havers in TV costume drama The Gentleman Thief in 2001.

Crispian Mills' new band, The Jeevas, are releasing their debut single, Virginia, later in September.