SAD NEWS: Julia Bradbury confirms health condition that stops her working in tragic update
The Countryfile star took to Instagram to share the vulnerable update online.
Julia Bradbury has revealed one health condition that stops her working (Image: X/ Twitter)
Julia Bradbury has shared a fresh health update after taking a break from work due to a common health condition. The 55-year-old broadcaster has suffered a major health journey in recent years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. Following her diagnosis, the TV presenter underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, which led to her recovery.
Since then, the Countryfile star has focused on prioritising her health and raising awareness for lesser-known health conditions. On Tuesday (September 1), the mum-of-three took to Instagram to open up about her latest health issue with her 350,000-strong fanbase.
In a vulnerable video, she began: “I don’t want to show you this, it’s a cold sore. I absolutely hate them. I hate the way they look, and they last about a week, and they’re really uncomfortable. If I’m filming or I’m working, I feel really, really self-conscious.”
Ms Bradburry then went on to share the fatal impact that cold sores can have on babies. She added in the caption: “I nearly didn’t post this. Then I read what it can do to a baby. I get cold sores. Have done for years, and I still feel self-conscious every time one turns up. That is not why I’m filming.
“Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, HSV-1. Roughly 7 in 10 UK adults carry it, and most of us go a lifetime with nothing worse than a sore lip. A newborn is different. Their immune system hasn’t built its defences yet.
“I’m telling you think because you might not know that if you kiss a baby when you have a cold sore, or even before it has arrived, so when it is bubbling away, you can cause serious harm. This includes blindness, brain damage and even death.”
The TV presenter went on to issue a trigger warning as she shared three stories from parents whose children were affected by cold-sore carriers in infancy. She concluded the post by thanking the participants for sharing their stories, especially a mum named Annabel, who sadly lost her daughter, Natasha, due to the health complications caused by the HSV-1 virus.
Since her breast cancer diagnosis, the TV presenter has been very careful with her lifestyle and diet. She mentioned in a 2024 interview how her life has changed since her diagnosis.
Ms Bradburry revealed: “I don’t drink, I eat a healthy diet and exercise every day. When I came home from my mastectomy, I promised I would spend time outside every day, and that is my mantra, however poor it might be in this sh**** winter.”
Julia is best known for presenting BBC’s Countryfile, which she helped revamp into a primetime BBC One hit. Following a successful mastectomy, she has shifted her focus to advocacy, writing, and wellness while continuing to film travel and outdoor series, such as ITV’s The Wonders of the Frozen South.
