Achilles hell for TV Andrew.

Byline: By VICTORIA WARD

TV presenter Andrew Marr will be unable to walk before the new year after an operation on a ruptured Achilles.

And the BBC's politics man, who damaged the heel tendon after a lifetime of long-distance, has been warned he may have to give the sport for good.

Despite not expecting to stand unaided before Christmas, the dad of three, 47, said: "If I had my time again, I'd still do all that running. I don't regret a mile."

Marr had the operation after physiotherapy, massage and a plastic boot failed to heal the soreness he had had for a year.

He said: "While cooking supper there was a bang and I fell, looking at a gap in my leg where my calf had ambled north."

His surgeon said it was like "shredded blotting paper and rotten crabmeat".

Now, after two weeks lying flat on his back, Marr hobbles on crutches as he propels his "floppy knee" on a trolley.

The BBC have arranged a wheelchair so he can host his Sunday AM show.

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SURGERY: Marr