Loose Women's Ruth Langsford gets 'horrible' illness as she scraps TV appearance

Ruth Langsford has revealed the 'horrible' reason why she couldn't appear on QVC last night. The 65-year-old TV star was struck down by a nasty stomach bug, just weeks after her mother fell ill.

"I've got a horrible tummy bug so unfortunately can't do my show @qvcuk tonight," she told her fans in an Story yesterday. "Thankfully, the wonderful @melissahardystyle is stepping in for me so I hope you can join her... some lovely new pieces launching! Thanks Melissa!"

The star's mother, Joan, has also been grappling with a 'horrible chest infection' these past few weeks. In a separate update, Ruth recently said the 94-year-old wasn't quite well enough to 'come out yet', but hoped she would recover very soon.

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"Thank you for all your kind wishes for my Mum," Ruth explained last month. "...Not quite well enough to come out yet, but I hope she'll be back dancing in my kitchen very soon. In the meantime she's enjoying lots of cuddles with Nurse Maggie!"

Unfortunately, Joan has faced several health challenges in recent months. She fractured her pelvis in December, just a year after breaking her hip.

While the family was relieved to learn that she wouldn't need surgery, Joan was required to stay in the hospital to recover. "No dancing in my kitchen peeling the veg for my darling Mum this ... she's had a fall and fractured her pelvis," Ruth said in December.

"She's ok…ish, no surgery required thank goodness but she needs rest and time to heal now. She's in hospital at the moment but I'm hoping to get her home soon. This time last year she fell and broke her hip but recovered well."

Ruth said the ordeal significantly changed her outlook on life, particularly since her mother couldn't enjoy Christmas traditions as usual last year. "She's a very strong woman so I'm sure she'll recover from this too," Ruth added.

"It puts life and what's important into perspective, eh?" Joan received care from nursing staff at Woking Community Hospital and St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey.

Fortunately, she was well enough to return home by January, reuniting with Ruth and her dog, Maggie. Ruth later added: "She's recovering brilliantly after fracturing her pelvis in December.

"...Charging around again on her walker like a good 'un! Hope I'll have her grit and energy when I'm 94! LEGEND."

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