Eamonn Holmes was urged to have hip replacement surgery over two-and-half decades ago.

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes

The 'This Morning' presenter, 56, has decided to bite the bullet and go ahead with the double hip operation tomorrow (03.02.16) after enduring 25 years of crippling pain.

He explained: "I should've had this [the surgery] done at least 15 years ago. I was advised it needed doing or I'd be literally crippled in agony. In fact I was offered the operation 25 years ago but I turned it down and I kept turning it down year after year. But it's time now.

"I can't go on any longer. I'm in pain, my mobility is affected and I really just need to buckle down and get on with it."

But it wasn't just the pain factor that put Eamonn off the surgery all those years ago, as he was also worried about the consequences it would have on his television career.

He told Belfast Live: "When I was younger and making my way in my career I was worried about anything getting in the way or people making presumptions that I wasn't fit for the job. It's a tough business and any perceived weakness can get pounced on and I didn't want to risk that. So despite the pain and discomfort I turned down the offer of operations and just got on with life and work."

Meanwhile, although he's just hours away from going under the knife, the Irish presenter is looking forward to rejoining his wife Ruth Langsford on the 'This Morning' sofa in two months' time.

He said: "I'm looking forward to April when I get the old me back, with no hip pain and my full mobility back."

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