On Thursday’s edition of Loose Women, Janet Street-Porter made a heartfelt revelation.
During the latest episode, the panellists launched their very first 25 hour Talkathon in support of ITV and STV’s Britain Get Talking campaign.
The event aims to tackle taboos around mental health and raise awareness and vital funds, for Mind, YoungMinds and Scottish Action for Mental Health helplines and services.
In a segment titled “when did you finally admit you needed help?” on Thursday’s programme, the Loose Women hosts shared their personal stories.
Janet, aged 77, reflected on the difficult period prior to her hip surgery earlier this year, during which time she was resistant to seeking help, reports the Mirror.
The TV presenter shared: “With the hip replacement, I was so reluctant and it got to the point where I could hardly walk, I’d come in here and be a complete misery. I was not sleeping, my sleep was down to two or three hours a night.”
She also mentioned: “Somehow having a knee replacement is more acceptable than a hip replacement, in my head anyway, hip you think: ‘Having a hip replacement, I’ve joined the oldies, that’s it, I’m in the last tiny bit of my life!’ which is ridiculous really.”
Janet went on to say: “I was told to have it back in March, I carried on, carried on, and the pain was excruciating.”
When asked about her struggle to reach out for help, Janet conceded: “I’m very very proud and very secretive. Although you might think I’m a bit blabbermouth on Loose Women, I’m a bit like an iceberg.
“You’re seeing a pointy bit at the top and there’s two-thirds below ground. That’s the best way of describing what I truly feel. I was absolutely at rock bottom.”
Janet opened up about her ‘year of horror’ in 2024, saying: “Unable to walk, I stopped myself going out, I would turn down going to the theatre or the movies because I couldn’t sit all the way through it. I’d be fidgeting around, annoying people.”
Reflecting on her isolation, she shared: “I felt like I was self-isolating, which is ridiculous, because Covid was over and there’s no need for that. So I would stay at home and it was absolutely chronic. By the time I had the operation, I was in a bad way and I’ve recovered well.”
However, Janet noted that her battle is still not over and she has to still work at her recovery, especially getting her fitness levels back and in the future she’ll need to have another knee replacement.
Loose Women continues every weekday at 12:30pm on both ITV and ITV X.