Eamonn Holmes uses walking stick amid chronic pain struggle after bathroom break on This Morning

Eamonn Holmes was spotted using a walking stick as he arrived back on set after an ad break on This Morning.

The 61-year-old presenter – who revealed last week he’s suffering from chronic back pain – returned to the ITV show on Monday and while he seemed to good spirits, his wife and co-star Ruth Lansford had to explain his brief absence when he nipped to the loo during the show.

As the programme came back on air, she said: ‘Many of you who follow Eamonn on social media will know he’s been talking a lot about chronic pain, and it’s ironic actually that he’s not here.

‘He had to nip to the loo, because it takes him so long walking. He’s just on his way back, he’s here any minute – there he is… Because it takes him longer to walk, but he’s here now.’

Eamonn didn’t reference his arrival, the walking stick or his wife’s comments as he settled in his seat for a phone-in focused on chronic pain.

Explaining his desire for tackling the topic on-air, he said: ‘Could I just say, my respect and my love to you all because this is just awful, not to be able to sleep at night because of pain.’

Late last week, Eamonn revealed he’d gone to see doctors to work out what was causing ‘pain like I’ve never experienced in my life’.

However, with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield taking a break from This Morning for the Easter holidays, Eamonn and his wife Ruth were set to stand in after losing their Friday slot to Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

On Friday morning, he tweeted: ’Will have clearer picture of what’s causing my pain tomorrow but just to say folks like so many of you I’ve lived with variations of chronic pain for years.

‘Don’t allow it to stop me working & next week I’d like to be a voice for many of u & discuss the subject on This Morning.’ 

He added he is ‘proud that my experience has given you a voice and I’m humbled by your various and different experiences & your kindness to me’.

‘If between us we can get more solutions more understanding and more resources directed towards CP then that would be a result,’ he wrote.

This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Eamonn Holmes reveals cause of chronic pain as he returns to This Morning after days in hospital

MORE : Eamonn Holmes ‘living a waking nightmare’ as he fights chronic back pain