Michelle Ackerley hospitalised with labyrinthitis and begins maternity leave from Morning Live
The BBC presenter, 41, said she spent four days in hospital and will return to the show in the new year after being discharged.
Michelle Ackerley, the BBC Morning Live presenter, has been hospitalised with labyrinthitis and is taking maternity leave, the broadcaster said in a social media update on Wednesday.
Ackerley, 41, said she was admitted to hospital for four days after coming off air and has since been discharged. She posted a photograph showing her bare baby bump and wrote that she had experienced “quite the rollercoaster of a few days,” adding that she would be resting at home and preparing for the birth.
In her Instagram message Ackerley thanked staff at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester, saying the midwives helped keep her calm amid the anxieties of being ill while pregnant. She said she will begin her maternity leave from Morning Live and expects to return to the programme in the new year with her newborn.
Ackerley, who was last seen in the studio on Monday, Sept. 8, returned to Morning Live earlier in September after the programme’s summer break. She announced her pregnancy in May and has said she is expecting her first child with her husband Benjamin Ryan, whom she married in 2024. In previous interviews she described the pregnancy as a “miracle” and said she was experiencing a mix of cautious excitement while managing an ongoing diagnosis of endometriosis.
Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the inner ear that can cause dizziness, imbalance, nausea and temporary hearing changes. The condition is typically treated with rest, hydration and medications to alleviate symptoms; severe cases may require hospital observation, particularly when they occur during pregnancy.
Ackerley’s post prompted supportive responses from viewers and colleagues on social media. She did not provide further medical details beyond confirming the diagnosis and the length of her hospital stay.
Morning Live did not immediately issue a separate statement about presenter arrangements. Ackerley’s announcement sets out that she will step away from presenting duties to focus on recovery and her pregnancy, with a planned return after the new year.
Ackerley has used her public profile to speak about women’s reproductive health, including her experiences with endometriosis and infertility, and has previously discussed how sharing those experiences can help others facing similar challenges. Her current update reiterated the immediate medical cause for her absence and her intention to pause professional commitments while she prepares for the birth.