Gogglebox's Jenny Newby was absent from Sunday night's BAFTA awards as her co-star and best friend Lee Riley reveals she is having an operation in hospital.
Lee said Jenny "isn't very well" and is having a "mini" operation, as he walked the red carpet at the BAFTA TV Awards, the Mirror reports.
It comes after fans were concerned about Jenny and Lee, who are from Hull, not appearing on Friday's episode of Gogglebox, with no explanation or warning.
Read more: Gogglebox's Malone family's rarely-seen son Lee gets married at 'eventful' do with crazy dancing
Lee told the Daily Star: "She is not very well, she is having an operation, a mini one, but she is recovering well though.
"She was invited but the appointment was in BAFTA week.
"You can't turn down an NHS operation down can you? But she is doing well."
While the other Gogglebox regulars featured on screen, Jenny and Lee were absent shortly after Lee returned from a recent getaway to Cyprus with his boyfriend Steve Mail.
The best friends have been on the show since 2014, and have kept fans entertained with their quick quips, excellent side-eye reactions and brutal digs at each other.
They lifted the nation's spirits in lockdown when it emerged they'd moved in together to self-isolate so the show could go on.
