Michael Ball, 63, opens up about his ‘chronic pain’ that was so debilitating he relied on crutches before his hip replacement

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Michael Ball has revealed he struggled with ongoing, severe pain for three years, which eventually forced him to use crutches.

The 63-year-old English singer and TV host seriously injured his leg, tearing a ligament. The pain was so bad that he had to use crutches to get around.

Michael was performing in a musical production of Les Misérables in Australia, and the run lasted for eight weeks.

Doctors told Michael he needed a hip replacement and recommended he have the surgery back in the UK, but he didn’t want to abandon his commitments.

He said he tried physical therapy, but it didn’t improve his condition. He then got a cortisone shot, which provided temporary relief, but within a couple of days, the pain returned and he was limping badly.

I had an MRI scan, and the doctor explained that my ligament was completely torn. He also found that the bones in my hip joint were rubbing together, meaning I needed a hip replacement. He commented that I must have been in terrible pain.

Despite being told he shouldn’t, Michael kept working, and the pain eventually became so severe that his managers had to make changes to accommodate him.

He told The Mirror he needed a crutch to reach the side of the stage and actually used the pain he was feeling to help him get into character.

They removed the scenes where I had to repeatedly climb over an obstacle. I just focused on getting through it, but it was incredibly draining and took away all my enjoyment.

After finishing his tour, Michael returned home and had his hip replaced. He says the surgery has made a huge positive difference in his life.

This experience also inspired him to make positive changes to his lifestyle. He’s now regularly going to the gym, starting with at least once a week.

Michael began his career in London’s West End in 1985, playing Marius Pontmercy in the very first production of Les MisĂ©rables.

He has twice won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Earlier this month, Michael responded to a dismissive remark made by TimothĂ©e Chalamet, who had said that people don’t care about ballet and opera.

Timothée, age 30, received criticism for comments he made during a recent conversation with Matthew McConaughey. The discussion, which lasted about an hour, was hosted by Variety and CNN on February 24th, and featured the two actors who played father and son in the film Interstellar.

He expressed his hope that cinemas will remain viable, stating he doesn’t want to see them become like ballet or opera – institutions that rely on being kept afloat despite a lack of public interest.

Trying to smooth things over, the awards hopeful said, ‘I have a lot of respect for those in ballet and opera… I just lost a small amount of viewers. Honestly, I shouldn’t have said anything.’

Honestly, I’ve been following the reaction to TimothĂ©e’s comments, and it’s been pretty negative across the board. Now, Michael – you know, the incredible baritone from musical theatre? – he’s just the newest performer to publicly share his thoughts on the whole thing, and it’s definitely sparked a lot of conversation.

On Magic Radio with Gaby Roslin, 63-year-old Michael explained that people have always loved to dance and sing, going all the way back to the beginning of humanity, and that won’t change anytime soon.

Dancers pour their energy and passion into their performances, captivating the audience. It’s incredibly disheartening when someone criticizes that dedication.

Opera requires immense training and dedication, demanding a high level of musical talent and skill. It continues to thrive because audiences find it enjoyable and meaningful.

When a clip of Michael’s interview was posted on Instagram, fans responded with comments like ‘Well said!’ and ‘Preach!’

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2026-03-28 18:49