Ruth Langsford has shared a health update with her Instagram followers after the Loose Women panellist was forced to miss the National Television Awards 2023 due to a stubborn chest infection

Loose Women host Ruth Langsford has shared an update after missing the National Television Awards 2023 on Tuesday evening, following viewers’ quick spotting of her absence from the glitzy show.

The ITV presenter took to Instagram yesterday to address her stubborn chest infection, which she has been battling now for over a week.

Ruth, who also skipped last year’s NTAs, has now tried everything from hot drinks and steaming to antibiotics prescribed by her GP in an effort to recover and return to full health. She even made a batch of warming chicken and vegetable soup, which had so many nutrients she joked it would “put hairs on your chest!!”

Despite the 63-year-old trying a variety of treatments, it appears the pesky illness has yet to shift. On Tuesday, she revealed a company had even sent her a package of throat lozenges to help her soothe her symptoms.

Ruth trying a steamer to treat her chest infection

Ruth received special sweets to help treat her sore chest

Ruth first announced she’d come down with the ‘lurgy’ on Instagram last week, after not posting anything on her social media for an entire fortnight. Her first port of call was to make a simple hot drink remedy, complete with “lemon, orange, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, honey and a big splosh of Irish whiskey.” She even whisked the drink up in her French press to ensure the flavours fused perfectly.

“Let’s hope this does the trick….if nothing else it should help me sleep!” she quipped in the caption of the video, which had been enhanced by Irish flute music. Unfortunately for Ruth, the DIY remedy appears not to have worked.

Ruth shared her cocktail of choice to help treat her ‘lurgy’ ( 
Image:
ruthlangsford/Instagram)

Ruth Langsford missed the NTAs on Tuesday because of sickness ( 
Image:
ITV)On the third day of taking her antibiotics, Ruth revealed she had been advised by her doctor to steam twice a day. She shared a video, which had been filmed by husband Eamonn Holmes, of her inhaling from a steamer she’d bought on Amazon.

“Big deep breath,” the GB News presenter can be heard saying the background, before asking, “Is that enough?” Ruth didn’t seem to appreciate his contribution, however, replying, “I don’t want this, Eamonn,” and reaching to cover the lens of the camera with her hand. “I try to do this in peace but @eamonnholmes decided to watch and offer helpful advice this morning!”, she wrote beneath the clip.

Fans of the QVC host have been quick to respond to her worrying updates, with many offering their own health tips in an effort to speed up her recovery.

“Don’t forget the paracetamol,” one person urged, while another suggested she take a COVID-19 test just in case. Others noted they’d feared Ruth was coming down with something on QVC last week, with one person admitting they thought her voice sounded ‘croaky’ on the shopping channel.

In another update, the former This Morning presenter showcased an ‘amalgamation’ of her followers’ remedy suggestions.

“Managed to get fresh turmeric….be VERY careful peeling it, it stains your fingers (& worktop!) bright yellow…so I wear gloves!” she said. “I smashed it up with some fresh ginger, into a pan of simmering water…added lemon peel and one small lemon quartered, half an orange, stick of cinnamon, some cloves, honey and a dash of cayenne pepper (think I was a bit over generous with that, it’s quite spicy!)”

Ruth also said she’d used Irish whiskey as a substitute for apple cider vinegar in the drink, before adding honey and one extra drop of Jameson for taste.