Longtime “Today” show host Al Roker will finally return to the set of the NBC morning show on Friday after multiple hospitalizations have kept him off the air since mid-November.
Roker’s co-host Savannah Guthrie announced on Tuesday that the 68-year-old weather personality is “coming back to the show” after initially being hospitalized before Thanksgiving when a blood clot in his leg “sent some clots into” his lungs, as previously reported.
“Everyone’s like, ‘When? When?'” co-host Hoda Kotb replied, as she shared Roker would be back on set this Friday, January 6.
“This is his place,” she added. “He’ll be in his seat, right where he belongs.”
“Not the same without Al,” Guthrie added. “Our sunshine will be coming back Friday morning.”
View this post on Instagram
Roker finally gave an update after his second hospitalization in December, calling it a “tough slog,” and thanked fans for all their love and support.
“Listen, it’s been a tough slog,” Roker shared. “I’m not going to deny this. It’s been the hardest one yet, and you know I’ve had my share of surgeries.”
“It gives you [a] profound sense of gratitude for this outpouring of prayers and thanks,” he added. “I’m a very fortunate person.”
The weather personality also admitted that four weeks in the hospital was hard on his body and said he wasn’t ready to return to the set yet.
“You lose a certain amount of muscle mass for every week you’re in the hospital, and I was in the hospital for four weeks,” Roker explained. “It’s just a certain amount of weakness. I’m doing physical therapy every day, occupational therapy. I’ve got to just get my strength back.”
On Thanksgiving, Roker posted photos on Instagram celebrating that he was out of the hospital after a blood clot in his leg “sent some clots into” his lungs.
However, he was rushed back to the hospital via ambulance on November 25 after falling ill again. Days later, the “Today” show confirmed that Roker was back in the hospital “due to some complications,” as they sent well wishes to their co-host.