Denise Welch says she feels stronger than ever as she turns 63 years old.
The Loose Women panellist shared a lovely throwback photo onto her Instagram as she celebrated the "bittersweet" day.
"So today I'm 63!!!!! But although things are tough at the minute I feel physically and mentally stronger than I have for years," she captioned her post.
"I've never been so busy work wise (thanks @bexelliff for taking on the diary stress) I’m looking after myself, exercising regularly and have been 20 months without a visit from ‘the unwelcome visitor’, the longest in 32 yrs without a major depressive episode. I don’t know what the reason is to be honest but I’m just very grateful."
She continued: "But of course today May 22nd is also the anniversary of my mum Annie’s death so it’s always bittersweet. I miss her every day and would love her to have lived to have seen how my sobriety has changed my life and the lives of those who love me. I also wish she’d known Lincoln and known that he would look after me and keep me safe. @debbiededes and I are so lucky to have the parents we have had.
"To those asking after our dad, the legend that is Vin Welch, thank you. After months of no appetite and extreme weight loss, he has had complications after very difficult gallbladder removal surgery and has been very poorly indeed."
Denise went on to say that her father is slowly but surely "making his comeback".
"I’m spending my birthday today with him in hospital and will tell him about all the love for him that has poured in," the talk show host added.
"He’s had postoperative delirium which I’d never heard of before and is more common than I thought and I’m looking further into. It’s been a tough few weeks for my family but I’m grateful for them all.
"I must also today send so much love to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the Manchester arena bombing 4 yrs ago today and those who are still living with the mental scars. A long post but heartfelt."
She recently broke down on the ITV show while talking about her father and how he had difficulty dealing with government restrictions.
"I can't bear it anymore," she revealed. Denise told her co-stars: "My dad actually is in hospital in Newcastle and I just want to say, I love you, dad. It's just been really tough."
