Sky presenter Kay Burley shares shocking picture after being forced off air due to illness

Nothing can normally keep Kay Burley away from her breakfast slot on Sky News, but the presenter has been forced to admit defeat after being struck down by an illness.

The 62-year-old was noticeably absent from the morning show on Thursday (7 December) and has still not returned as of yet.

Luckily for Burley, her day off falls on a Friday anyway as Anna Jones steps in to give viewers the lowdown over the weekend.

Some avid Sky News viewers clocked that the broadcaster had to give her fourth day of presenting a miss, leaving an air of mystery around her lack of attendance.

It turned out that Burley was nursing an uncomfortable looking allergic reaction at home - which she gave fans a glimpse of in an Instagram story post on Thursday evening.

Sky News

Updating fans on her absence, she explained: "When allergies prevent you from being on the TV. Sorry to have missed you all today."

The presenter looked very under the weather in the shocking selfie which showed her incredibly swollen face while she rested in her pyjamas.

She comically added the song Bright Eyes by Art Garfunkel alongside the image, with the lyrics: "Bright eyes, burning like fire. Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?"

Burley seemed to be poking fun at her face-altering allergic reaction with the track, although it had appeared to have taken quite a severe toll on her.

She didn't disclose what had caused it, but Burley appeared as though she needed a bit of TLC over the weekend.

Let's hope it calms down before her next Sky News gig on Monday.

According to the NHS, symptoms of an allergic reaction can include a runny nose or sneezing, pain or tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead and coughing, wheezing or breathlessness.

Itchy skin or a raised rash, diarrhoea, feeling or being sick and swollen eyes, lips, mouth or throat, can also be a sign.

If your symptoms worsen or you suddenly struggle to breath or swallow, experience drowsiness or confusion, you should immediately seek further treatment.

Instagram/@kayburley_

Mild allergic reactions can be calmed down by antihistamines, steroid tablets and steroid creams, but severe ones may require other medicines.

Burley has appeared on Sky News since 1988 and takes over hosting duties from Monday to Thursday.

She has been candid with viewers about her health throughout her time on our screens, seeing her previously discuss the difficulty she has experienced while navigating the menopause.

The Wigan-born presenter said it was 'tricky' to handle while working on TV and said hot flushes leave her 'looking like she's walked through the shower'.

Burley said she had to request that the temperature in the Sky News studio would always be set to low to help her look camera-ready first thing in the morning.