Television personality Janet Street-Porter experienced a dramatic fall while at the Good Morning Britain studios, just weeks after undergoing major knee surgery. The 78-year-old Loose Women legend was there to promote her 'Off the Leash' tour when the incident occurred before the live broadcast.
The On-Air Incident
Appearing on the ITV daytime show with hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Janet Street-Porter immediately addressed the mishap. She explained that after arriving early and preparing for her segment, she attempted to sit down on her chair but fell off it. The broadcaster vividly described being left "lying on the floor like a beached whale" before managing to get up.
She reassured viewers that this was only a minor fall, emphasizing that she simply slid sideways off the chair. This wasn't her first post-surgery tumble, as she revealed another incident where her own luggage knocked her over in her London flat's basement shortly after returning from hospital.
Remarkable Recovery Journey
The former I'm A Celebrity contestant demonstrated incredible determination in her recovery, returning to her seat on Loose Women just three weeks after her operation. She revealed that within two hours of waking from her knee replacement surgery four weeks prior, she attempted to walk to the bathroom without any assistance from a stick - and succeeded.
Despite her positive outlook and rapid return to work, Janet has been open about the challenges she faces. She recently told The Mirror about experiencing significant nerve pain at night, stating she's "walking around fine but at night the nerve pain is shocking." She maintains a philosophy of toughing things out rather than looking backwards.
Health Battles and Future Outlook
Janet Street-Porter admits to catastrophising when health issues arise, particularly concerning her arthritis and upcoming second knee replacement. Her health journey includes a 2020 skin cancer diagnosis, which she discovered after self-referring when she noticed what she thought was a mosquito bite on her nose.
More recently, in October 2023, she urged Loose Women viewers to check their eligibility for the shingles vaccine after suffering from the debilitating illness herself. She first experienced shingles in her 40s and had another outbreak in 2012 that sent her home from the ITV show.
The journalist maintains ambitious goals for her future health, expressing her "full intention is to live to be 100" and to live a very full life. She remains vigilant about her health, encouraging others to monitor skin changes and take advantage of preventative vaccinations like the shingles vaccine when eligible.
