BBC Have I Got News For You host Lorraine Kelly's 'awful' health condition, real name and devastating loss

There's barely a day that goes by without an appearance from Lorraine Kelly on our TV screens. The presenter has celebrated 40 years in the business.

She's most recognised for her cheerful demeanour on her ITV chat show Lorraine. But she will be gracing our screens as the host of Have I Got News For You on BBC One tonight, while also making a cameo on the Royal Variety Show in the presence of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

But what do we know about Lorraine's life away from the camera? Below we look at the star's real name, her relationship with her husband Steve and the 'awful' health condition that caused her great pain.

READ MORE: Cheryl shares how grief has changed her life after devastating double tragedy

READ MORE: Real Housewives star dies aged 37 as 'heartbroken' friend says 'you didn't tell me'

Read more Alison Hammond announces new TV show with son Aidan

Lorraine Kelly's 'awful' health condition

Lorraine previously opened up about a 'horrid' health condition she had struggles with. While discussing Bob Mortimer's battle with shingles and its severe impact on him on her ITV show, Lorraine felt compelled to share her personal ordeal with the ailment.

Reports have highlighted that Bob suffered from muscle wastage due to a six-month struggle with shingles, necessitating the use of a wheelchair. Lorraine expressed her empathy, stating: "Shingles, I know from personal experience, I've had it's awful, Tyler. It's the worst."

She further described the discomfort by saying: "It's like having itchy pain, you know. It's very difficult to describe but it's horrid!"

Shingles is an infection that causes a painful rash. According to the NHS, it can take up to 4 weeks for the shingles rash to heal and your skin can be painful for weeks after the rash has gone.

Lorraine Kelly's family

Lorraine first crossed paths with husband of 31 years Steve Smith when he was on duty as a cameraman at TV-am, with Lorraine instantly knowing he was "the one" upon seeing him. Chatting to Woman and Home, Lorraine once disclosed: "He walked into the TV-am office 28 years ago where I was working as a reporter and he was part of the crew, and I thought, 'That'll do, I'm having that'."

The duo were pals for roughly a year before their relationship took a romantic turn. It was during a work trip in the breathtaking Glencoe, Scotland, that their connection sparked.

Lorraine openly recounted: "We were staying in a tiny hotel in the middle of nowhere and I got him incredibly drunk on tequila before making my move. The way I remember it is that I leapt on him like a ninja and he had absolutely no defence!"

After tying the knot, the pair expanded their family with the arrival of their daughter Rosie. Fast forward to the present, and Lorraine is now the proud grandmother to Rosie's baby Billie, born over the summer.

Lorraine Kelly's tragic loss

Reflecting on the past, Lorraine has spoken about the lingering thoughts of "what might have been", feeling the weight of a miscarriage she experienced 24 years prior. In an emotional revelation back in 2000, she opened up about the agony of losing a baby, a sorrowful chapter that unfolded eight years into her marriage with Steve.

In the aftermath, Lorraine confessed that both she and her husband felt as though the opportunity to try for another child had eluded them. In April, Lorraine Kelly opened up about the profound impact her miscarriage has had on her over the past 20 years, admitting that she often feels like she's living in a parallel universe, wondering what could have been.

She acknowledged that as more people share their experiences of pregnancy loss, the world is becoming more understanding. "Sometimes I wonder what might have been, you've got this parallel life that didn't happen," she shared in a recent interview with Saga Magazine.

The BAFTA-nominated host recalled: "I do remember vividly the time when someone said, 'Oh this is very common', they were trying to make me feel better, which made me feel worse. I thought oh my God, so many people feel like this."

Lorraine also noted that society is now "more open" to discussing miscarriages. She added: "You should be allowed to grieve and go through that whole process the way it suits you. Some people don't want to talk about it, and some do."

Lorraine Kelly's real name

In a separate instance, Lorraine surprised her fans in 2021 by revealing her actual name. While showing off her Covid vaccination card, she told her followers: "Vaccinated! So relieved! Easy peasy - didn't feel a thing - thanks so much to all the cheery volunteers and NHS staff who made it SO simple! ! Please please get vaccinated! ! We are so lucky to have the opportunity Xxx."

Viewers were baffled when the much-adored telly presenter was referred to as 'Lorraine Smith' instead of 'Lorraine Kelly'. The gaffe prompted a wave of reactions, with one fan admitting: "I had no idea your current surname was Smith! ! My full name is Lauren Kelly and I've been called Lorraine Kelly (or LK today! ! ! ) my entire life, my partner's surname is Smith so I may also end up a smith one day. Twinning."

Lorraine replied with a laugh: "I am your evil twin." Someone else commented: "Genuinely never even thought about you having a surname until I saw this."

Yet another viewer remarked: "Me too - my brain couldn't cope with it."