"I’ll be in hospital for four days, I’ll come out on the Friday, do a bit of Stairmaster training so I can get up to Tess’s box because I’m worried about that and then just sit there doing the show."

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-...current-series

My my how surgery has progressed!

I wish him well for the op.

Assuming the operation goes to plan. That's admirable but very ambitious.

Blimey. Is he having a keyhole hip replacement surgery? I hope it goes as well as he projects.

Is he getting a hip replacement ?

If so, that ain't going to happen unless they turn him bionic at the same time.

Wow! For some reason I thought he was waiting until early next year to have his operation. Hope everything goes to plan for him.

I'm not sure I can see him managing to get up to the Tessbox but he may manage to do the show, I suppose. If he had to pull out in the end, I wonder who they'll get to replace him that week? Still, I hope all goes well for him and he's back in form quickly.

I had a full hip replacement. No General Anaesthetic ... I had sedation and spinal block/epidural thingy. Was away with the fairies for the 90 minute op. Was out of bed the following morning and with the physios. Climbed stairs the following morning and went home in the afternoon. Had to be careful and use crutches for a few weeks (to remind me to be careful!) but did all my exercises and was walking freely with no stick nor nothing within six weeks.

Craig will need an elbow crutch or two .... sequinned ones I think!

Surprised he's brought the op forward. I wonder if he's having resurfacing rather than replacement?

I have a friend having a hip replacement this Saturday (on the NHS) and all being well, she expects to be discharged next Wednesday.

She's having an epidural instead of a general anaesthetic to speed up her recovery too (offered that choice) - and I thought that was a shocker too. She'll be lying on her back for about 3 hours and wear head phones to listen to music, etc., read a book, play with her iPad. How times have changed.

Not sure Craig's plans will turn out as he hopes, but fingers crossed for him.

I think 4 days recovery is cutting it very fine, but all the best to him.

I had surgery in May (not a hip op) and had an epidural and general anaestheic, and still alot of pain afterwards!

I have spoken to other patients on the Surgical/Orthorpaedic Ward and they said a hip op is incredibly painful, and the Physios dragging them out of bed the next morning was very hard.

But Craig is a fit man to start with and youngish, so hope it goes well for him.

In fairness he only has to sit on a chair for 2 hours.

Which, after a hip operation, is the worst thing you can do! And it's a lot longer than 2 hours.

Being fit as you go into the operation is the first thing. Then it's about determination. I didn't think it was incredibly painful - honestly. I took paracetamol for a few days and just got on with it!

General Anaesthetics make it worse - far less easy to control post-op pain and they knock me out for a week. But sedation and epidural/spinal block and there aren't any after-effects. So I assume that what Craig's having.

My mum broke her hip, had a replacement, and then was out of hospital in a week. Went on a cruise a fortnight after the break (and survived a very rough sea)!

But I agree that sitting around for long periods is not good, as clots are more likely to develop after an op, although he will probably be on blood thinners.

He says in the article he wants to be all better for panto season.

Oh no he doesn't!

Oh yes he does!

(Sorry ).

All seems a bit rushed to me but I'm sure he's doing it with best medical advice .

I wish him a speedy recovery .

Can you really dance with replacement hips ?

***groans***

PS Also boos and hisses!

Who will replace him if he can't do it?

Just hope no one shouts 'he's BEHIND YOU!' cos frankly he still scares the crap outta me

Yes that's what he said on Alan Titchmarsh!

The thing with a hip replacement is you are having it because of awful pain, why people do so well afterwards is that relatively speaking the pain of the operation and scarring is so much less than the pain that they had before.

I hope it all goes well for him, certainly he appears to be fit going into the operation and has every hope of a really successful outcome.

good luck Craig hope it all goes well for you

All the best to Craig - hope all goes well. p.s. Best Judge!

I thought it sounded ambitious too. But maybe e can stand up and walk about a bit during VTs etc? Or he could just not go up to Toss' box and they just do that segment without him?

If he can't do it at all, I'd vote for getting one of the ex-pros to judge, hopefully Ian but bet you'd have to use a restraining order to keep Karen out of the chair!

If he has to have a week off all the contestants scores will shoot up

There is bound to be a lift in the building somewhere