Dr Hilary Jones has made a triumphant return to ITV’s Lorraine after undergoing surgery on his foot. The 71-year-old has been absent from the morning show for several weeks due to health issues.
However, he reappeared on Thursday (January 23) to update viewers and host Lorraine Kelly on his condition. Sporting an orthopaedic boot, Dr Hilary explained: “I had a little disagreement with my Achilles tendon and a little bony spur at the back of my heel, so that had to be gone.”
He also mentioned how the surgery served as a reminder of the patient’s experience.
Lorraine, curious about his recovery, inquired when he would be free of the boot. Dr Hilary revealed: “I come out of high heels in about two weeks, I adjust the heel height every week,” humorously referring to his protective footwear, reports the Mirror.
When asked by Lorraine if the situation was frustrating him, Dr Hilary admitted: “It’s driving me crazy! But I can actually shower now, which is good.”
He expressed his pleasure at returning to the show, sentiments echoed by Lorraine, who noted that other team members had been asking after him.
In a recent discussion, Dr Hilary opened up about his battle with gout, often dubbed the “Victorian disease”. Highlighting the dangers, he pointed out that excessive modern lifestyles are leading to an increase in cases across the UK.
The GP, who is also a familiar face on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, opened up about his own battle with common symptoms such as discoloured nails, worsening joint pain at night, and unrelenting tiredness.
He shared: “Gout affects around 2.5 per cent of people in the UK, and men more than women. Unfortunately, this Christmas I was one of them. The prevalence of gout has been steadily increasing over the last century and is forecast to increase further.”
In a stark warning, he cautioned: “Foods that are high in purine and converted to uric acid are popular at Christmas. Examples include red meat, offal, game meats like venison, oily fish, seafood, poultry, and gravy. But crash diets in January can be just as harmful.”
Lorraine airs Mondays-Fridays at 9am on ITV1.