Michael Ball, one of the UK's most beloved performers, has been forced to make drastic career changes due to ongoing health problems. The 63-year-old star, known for his iconic roles in musical theatre and his long-running BBC Radio 2 show, has opened up about his battle with hip issues that ultimately led to surgery and his departure from cherished projects.
A Painful Decision
Ball had been enduring persistent hip pain for three years, but matters came to a head during an eight-week stint of Les Misérables in Australia last year, which forced him to abandon the production. After a 40-year association with the musical, he described leaving as 'the end of an era'.
In an interview with the Daily Express, Ball revealed: 'I went for physio, and it wasn't getting any better. I had a cortisone injection, which helped, but after two days, I was in agony and really limping.' An MRI scan showed that the ligament was completely ruptured and severed, with bone-on-bone contact in the joint, necessitating a hip replacement. The doctor told him, 'You must be in a really severe amount of pain,' to which Ball replied, 'Well, it's nice to know I'm not just being a drama queen!'
Despite the doctor's recommendation to fly back to England for surgery, Ball initially declined. However, as his condition deteriorated, he eventually underwent hip replacement surgery.
Life After Surgery
Discussing his lifestyle adjustments post-operation, Ball said: 'I'm going to the gym, oh, at least once every week. I'm not wholeheartedly throwing myself into this. It's gradual, I'm dipping my toe in. But I'm out every day, I do long walks with the dogs, and I'm eating more healthily.'
Reflecting on leaving Les Misérables, he continued: 'So that's me, and Les Mis finished. It's the end of an era. It's a pretty big decision, but it feels right. For me, it was time.'
Personal Life
Michael Ball has maintained a long-term relationship with Cathy McGowan, 81, a former journalist and television presenter best known for hosting the 1960s music programme Ready Steady Go! The pair met in the 1980s and have cohabited since 1992. Although they haven't had children together, Ball has served as a stepfather to Cathy's daughter, Emma, from her previous marriage.
Addressing their 20-year age gap, Ball told Platinum magazine: 'Every night is a date night with Cathy! I'm too old to be a toy boy, and age has never been an issue or thought about. We've been together about 30 years now, and all I can say is I wish I looked as young as she does, because she looks amazing!'
When asked why they never married, Ball told The Mirror in 2019: 'My public life is insane, but once that front door closes, I leave that version of myself outside, and I just like to relax at home.'
Family Life
The singer has no biological children of his own, owing to a serious parachuting accident in his younger years that left him unable to father children. Nevertheless, he has wholeheartedly embraced family life as a devoted, hands-on stepfather to his long-term partner Cathy's daughter, Emma, while also playing an active, supportive role in the lives of his children, Connor and Grace.
