Nicki Chapman defies 'doctors orders' with visit to Chelsea Flower Show days after brain tumour operation

Nicki Chapman made a surprise appearance at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show today, despite being in recovery from surgery from a major brain tumor.

Ms Chapman, 52, has led the BBC’s coverage of the flower show since 2006, but announced she would be unable to present this year due to strict medical advice.

She appeared at the event on Monday looking elegant in a black and green dress and smiling to photographers. She attended the invitation-only event with her husband Dave Shackleton.

The broadcaster is recovering from a four-and-a-half hour operation which took place less than two weeks ago in which she had a tumour the size of a golf ball removed.

She said she was “flabbergasted” at how quickly she’d recovered from the surgery conducted at the Charing Cross Hospital, but accepted her doctor’s instructions to rest.

“Although I feel fine, my lovely surgeon has told me I shouldn’t go back to work for six weeks,” she told the Daily Mail.

“You have to give yourself the best possible chance to heal, so I won’t be presenting the Chelsea Flower Show this year.

"You start at 5am and it's five 12-hour days, and I don't think I could manage that yet. I'm devastated. I watched the preview and it made me cry,” she added.

"I've done it since 2006 and, of all the shows I present, it's the one I really regret not being able to do. But I have to follow my doctor's advice. You don't get a second chance to recover.”

A spokesman for the former Pop Idol judge told the Standard: “Attending a private event like this is very different from presenting."

Ms Chapman said she was devastated at having to pull out of co-hosting this year’s event, but felt very grateful at the “excellent treatment” she received.

“I really hope other people who get a similar diagnosis have the excellent treatment I had, and find the same inner strength," she told the Daily Mail.

She said most of the tumor had been removed, but a "little bit" which was growing close to one of the main cerebral veins had to be left because the risk from removing it was too great.

"I know it might come back, but if it does they'll deal with it before it gets too big,” she added.

"I don't know about the future but I'm as optimistic as I possibly can be."