Eamonn Holmes admits he does not know when he'll be back on TV as he undergoes spinal surgery

Eamonn Holmes has revealed he does not know when he will be back on TV as he prepares to undergo surgery on his back.

The 62-year-old former This Morning host - who has spoken openly about his battle with chronic pain in recent years - has taken a break from his GB News show and is scheduled to have an operation on his spine on Wednesday 28 Septmeber.

Holmes revealed in a column in The Express newspaper: "You may not see me on your screens for a wee while! Every recuperation is different. So, it could be a long time but, equally, it might be a short time until I am back in the hot seat on GB News."

Read more: Eamonn Holmes fears ending up in wheelchair if he loses battle against chronic pain

The TV presenter - who is married to Loose Women star Ruth Langsford - admitted the procedure to cut his sciatic nerves in a bid to relieve pressure was high risk, but he was willing to do anything to "get my life back".

He said: "It’s an operation that carries a 20 percent risk of going wrong, but such is the pain and restrictions that I have been suffering for the past 18 months, I’ve decided it is a risk I am willing to take.

"In fact, it’s a risk I want to take because, at this moment in time, nothing could seem worse than the constant pain that runs through my lower back and legs."

He added: "I pray that God will guide my surgeon’s hand this week and help me get back to the man I used to be... I want my back fixed and my life back."

Holmes struck a chord with many of his one million Twitter followers when he started opening up on social media in the early hours of the morning about his struggle to sleep while suffering from such intense pain.

And this week he again reached out to them again at the weekend, tweeting: "What causes our #ChronicPain ? Some of us know others don't. I wonder if we all sat in the same room talking would our pains in someway lessen ? A collective calming ? My whole left leg pulsating tonight. Agony."

Holmes announced on GB News show Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel with Isabel Webster that he would be taking time off.

He said: "I’m so bad I’m going to have an operation on Wednesday.”

Webster told him: "I’m going to miss you!"

Holmes took a short break from the show in June and revealed he had been advised by doctors to rest.

He said at the time: "Unfortunately, due to a reoccurrence of a long-term back condition, I've had to undergo some unexpected hospital treatment and am now following doctor's orders by taking a short time off.

"I now just need some time with my family to heal and recuperate."

Holmes has hosted the GB News show Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel alongside Isabel Webster since the start of the year.

He has three slipped discs in his back caused by a dislocated pelvis and has suffered ongoing problems for the past few years as a result, including chronic pain and insomnia.

Holmes has regular physiotherapy and steroid injections in a bid to combat the pain.

The former GMTV presenter said his pelvis "mysteriously" dislocated in 2021 and put his back out of alignment as a result.

He said he now “can’t remember what life was like without the pain”.

Holmes underwent a double hip replacement in 2016. The surgery was carried out in a bid to tackle excruciating hip, leg and back pain he had secretly suffered for more than 20 years.

Read more: Eamonn Holmes accuses Holly and Phillip of 'lying' over queue-gate row

He said last year: "I have no idea why in such a short space of time you go from being healthy to being told your nerves are dead in your leg because of your back and it might take a year before there’s improvement, and you’ve no choice but to do the exercises otherwise you’ll be sitting in a wheelchair."

Watch: Eamonn Holmes accuses Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield of lying about queue-gate