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Julia Bradbury reveals she 'could have died' after putting off vital hernia operation


The former Countryfile star finally had treatment, but said it left her too weak to lift bags into the car.

Famed for her love of the great outdoors Julia presented the BBC show for 10 years until 2014.

She has since fronted the likes of Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100 and ITV’s Australia With Julia Bradbury.

But the mother of three says she has been forced to slow down after a March operation on a triple hernia.

“It is going to be a good six months before I’m back to the way I was,” she says.

“Surgery was essential. I had two umbilical hernias in my stomach and the third was an inguinal in my groin, which is not a good one, I could have died. I left it a year to have them done and shouldn’t have.”

Julia, 48, says: “I am so active normally, taking it easy is incredibly hard. The most difficult thing has been not lifting anything, including the children, because I realise how often I do it. Plus I am always travelling with a bag. At the moment, I just have to stand there, and say, ‘I’m really sorry, can you lift that in the car for me, please?’ I feel useless!

“I am exercising again – gingerly! Yoga has taken over from pole dancing. I am playing tennis and walking. I am definitely not 100 per cent but meditation has been helping me,” she adds.

Julia returns to our screens this week on Britain’s Greatest National Treasures with Sir Trevor McDonald, celebrating a top 20 from iconic buildings 
to breathtaking coast to awe-inspiring feats of engineering.

“Obviously it was amazing to work with Sir Trevor,” she says. “He is a legend, and he is very charming and lovely. We went to certain locations and other people, fans and famous faces, went to others.

“We have lovely stories. Eamonn Holmes recalls childhood excursions to the Giant’s Causeway while Hugh Dennis reveals that his father was Prebendary of St Paul’s. I covered the Jurassic Coast which I love. What tops the list? That would be telling!”

Julia, lives in west London with property developer Gerard Cunningham, 58, and children Zephyr, seven, and four-year-old twins Xanthe and Zena. She was 41 when Zephyr was born, and she left Countryfile to prioritise IVF treatment, leading to the twins.

“I love being a mum, there are cuddles all the time in our house,” she says. “But I sometimes have to pinch myself. The girls are starting big school.

“It’s mind-blowing. I was curious about life before, now I’ve become even more curious, because they are asking me questions – and I want to know the answers!”

She’s conservation-minded too. “I’m an ambassador for Keep Britain Tidy – even on holiday we do a litter pick on the beach. I’m the mad mother with the Marigolds on! They will say no to plastic straws if people offer them drinks. Zeph’s birthday party will be plastic-free – no balloons and we will use recyclable plates.”

She is showing her children the great outdoors, which she calls “green therapy”. She says: “We are always in the garden, even it’s bucketing down. They love it! We get soaked, look for slugs and lift up logs.”

Julia and sister Gina have even set up a website, The Outdoor Guide at theoutdoorguide.co.uk, which features her TV walks.

Julia also finds other ways to relax: “I have been meditating for the past two or three years and I am in the early stages of exploring Buddhism.”

She says she still loves Countryfile and would consider doing a special. What’s next?

“My projects are top secret!,” she laughs. “But I won’t be on telly for a while, I need to film a few shows first!”

● Britain’s Greatest National Treasures, ITV1, Thursday, 8.30pm.



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