Celia Walden, wife of broadcaster Piers Morgan, has provided a candid update on her husband's challenging recovery following emergency hip replacement surgery, revealing the process is set to be "long" and "painful" over several months.
This Morning Appearance Reveals Recovery Struggles
During Wednesday's edition of ITV's This Morning, the 50-year-old journalist and author appeared on the programme to discuss current affairs when conversation naturally turned to her husband's health situation. Celia offered viewers an intimate glimpse into the household dynamics as Piers navigates his convalescence.
The Incident That Led to Surgery
The health crisis began earlier this month when the 60-year-old presenter stumbled over what he described as "a small step" at a London hotel restaurant. The seemingly minor accident resulted in a serious fracture to the neck of his femur, necessitating immediate surgical intervention.
Piers himself documented the incident on Instagram, posting from his hospital bed with characteristic humour: "BREAKING NEWS 1. Tripped on a small step. 2. Inside a London hotel restaurant. 3. Fell like a sack of spuds. 4. Fractured neck of femur. 5. So badly I needed a new hip."
Celia emphasised the accident's innocent nature during her television appearance, stating: "A little stumble on the shallowest step that you could imagine. It's amazing how the worst injuries are always the tiniest things, aren't they?" She specifically addressed speculation about the circumstances, clarifying: "So, yeah, he wasn't drunk. And I want to make sure that everybody knows that. Because the messages coming in are just constant kind of, 'long lunch, was it?' And I was like, 'no, it was a coffee!'"
The Surgical Procedure and Initial Recovery
According to Celia, medical professionals explained that the particular angle of Piers' fall caused the severe fracture. "Apparently, according to the surgeon, they said that if you just fall in that particular way on your side... anyway, he cracked his femur right across the neck and then had to have an emergency hip replacement," she revealed.
Following the procedure, Piers spent time recovering in hospital before announcing his return home last week via social media. He shared his appreciation for customised crutches with the message: "Back home. Love my Breaking News @coolcrutches - perfect timing as President Trump is making a lot of breaking news in Davos."
Household Dynamics During Convalescence
When questioned about how Piers was coping as a patient, Celia responded with knowing humour: "I mean, what do you think? Let's just say that the messages flooding in have predominantly been, 'never mind him, how are you doing?'"
She elaborated on the recovery challenges, noting: "Yeah, so it's been a long, painful few days... for Piers, too. But he's... I mean, it's reached a stage where he's got slightly snappy now because he's very impatient."
Humorous Coping Mechanisms
Celia revealed her own lighthearted methods for managing the situation, drawing a cinematic comparison: "Of course, he can't access the things he wants to and the snappier he gets with me, the more I turn into Kathy Bates from Misery."
She confessed to employing subtle retaliatory tactics, saying: "I've started slightly moving the remote control out of reach and then leaving Love Island on TV. There are little ways that you can get your own back..." The author also joked about seeking respite from caregiving duties, quipping: "Anything to leave the house suddenly seems really appealing!"
Long Road to Full Recovery
Providing a realistic timeline for her husband's rehabilitation, Celia explained: "It takes about three months, I think, to be back into... until he can play golf", before adding with emphasis: "It's a very long time, I know!"
Despite the challenges, Piers has already made a professional return, announcing yesterday: "Back in the game. New episode dropping tonight, hosted from my home with a new bionic hip. @piersmorganuncensored."
The presenter's determination to resume work contrasts with the physical limitations of his recovery, which includes six weeks on crutches and restrictions on long-haul travel for twelve weeks according to his earlier social media posts.
Celia's appearance on This Morning provided both medical context and personal insight into a public figure's private health struggle, balancing factual information about hip replacement recovery with relatable anecdotes about managing convalescence within family life.
