Jane Hill has been absent from BBC One's lunchtime news due to her battle with cancer.

Jane Hill

Jane Hill

The 49-year-old newsreader - who returned to her job on Wednesday (22.05.19) after a six-month break - opened up about how she has been suffering from breast cancer, and thanked everyone who had sent her welcome-back-to-work messages.

Jane tweeted: "Overwhelmed by so many lovely back-to-work messages. I just want to say that my return wouldn't have been possible without our NHS.

"Sending love & thanks to the numerous #NHSuk staff who spotted my breast cancer, treated it, and continue to look after me. Thank you all. (sic)"

Ahead of her return to the show - which was her first stint since November - she told her followers she was getting ready for her big comeback, and said the BBC had cancelled her pass because she had been absent for so long.

Jane wrote: "Big day today. On air for the first time since November.

"Still... 6 months out of the newsroom... that's been plenty of time to sort # Brexit, right...? See you for @bbcnews at One.

"Oh, and in true #W1A style, my pass had been cancelled and I couldn't get into the building. #welcomeback (sic)"

Jane was inundated with messages from various celebrities.

Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar wrote: "Great to have you back Jane and that you're feeling better. You haven't missed much, nothing's changed."

Author Emma Kennedy added: "Oh Jane! I had no idea. I'm so sorry. But very glad you're on the mend."

Jane has been presenting the lunch-time news since 2003, after she joined the network full-time at the end of 1991.

She broadcast for eight hours in 2003 when Saddam Hussein was captured by US Special Forces.

Jane was also the first person to interview Kate and Gerry McCann on TV after their daughter Madeleine disappeared from Praia da Luz in 2007.