Kay Burley is unrecognisable after suffering horrific allergic reaction and being forced off air due to the terrifying health scare

By William On Dec 8, 2023

Kay Burley suffered a horrific allergic reaction which caused her to miss her show on Sky News on Thursday.

The 62-year-old broadcaster was virtually unrecognizable in an image shared to Instagram showing her badly swollen face alongside the caption: 'When allergies keep you from being on TV. I'm sorry I missed you all today.”

She added to the tune of Art Garfunkel's 1978 hit Bright Eyes, with the poignant lyrics: 'Bright eyes, burning like fire // Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? // How can the light that burned so bright // suddenly burn so pale?'

She didn't specify what happened to cause the allergy, but gave her followers an inside scoop with the shocking snap.

Kay, who has appeared on Sky News since 1988 and is a presenter Monday to Thursday, appeared to be lying on a bed with her trademark bangs pushed back from her face to reveal her puffy and dry-looking eyes in the close-up selfie.

Kay Burley suffered a horrific allergic reaction which caused her to miss her show on Sky News on Thursday

Her post isn't the only time Kay has opened up about her health, as she revealed in 2021 that going through menopause is “tricky” to deal with while working in TV and claimed hot flashes make her “look like she walked through the shower'.

The Sky News presenter from Wigan has requested that the temperature in the studio where she presents her breakfast show be permanently turned down.

Speaking to The Times, the mother-of-one said: 'Menopause is tricky. Especially since you're on television. If I have a hot flash, the ladies have to come in during a break and try to sort my hair. It looks like I've walked through the shower.'

She also admitted she was 'very embarrassed' by the incident which led to her being suspended by Sky for six months with full pay for breaching Covid rules while celebrating her 60th birthday in London in December.

That evening, she visited a restaurant with nine other guests — who were seated at two separate tables to comply with the Rule of Six — and then used the bathroom of another restaurant after the 11 p.m. curfew.

It also resulted in the suspension of two of its regulars, Sky's political editor Beth Rigby and reporter Inzamam Rashid, for three months.

Kay, who was 'not keen' to talk about what happened, said she prefers the term 'sanctioned' and insisted she believed they were Covid compliant.

“I felt very ashamed that I was dragging… well, my colleagues were in a position where they were unhappy and in the spotlight in a way they didn't want,” she told the Times2 section of the publication.

“We thought we were Covid compliant. We weren't. I have publicly apologized. I was given appropriate sanctions and we will move on.”

She didn't specify what happened to cause the allergy, but gave her followers an inside scoop with the shocking snap

Kay denied taking guests to her Kensington flat and said she knew nothing about the rumor that bitter Sky colleagues had tipped off the press about her celebrations.

When Guido exposed the birthday party, Kay revealed she was taking a break from work after an internal investigation by Sky into her birthday parties found 'Covid guidelines had been breached'.

She released a statement saying: 'I have today agreed with Sky News to step back from my broadcasting role for a period of reflection. It is clear to me that we are all in the fight against Covid-19 and we all have a duty to strictly adhere to the rules.

'It doesn't matter that I thought I was Covid-19 compliant at a recent social event. The fact is I was wrong, I made a big mistake and I'm sorry.

“A number of dear friends and colleagues – some of the most talented and dedicated professionals in our industry – are involved in this episode and I deeply regret it.

'I was one of the founders of Sky News. No one is more proud of the reputation of our channel, the professionals in our team and the impact we make. I very much look forward to continuing my 32-year career with Sky upon my return.”