In a raw and emotional moment that left fans reeling, sports pundit Alex Scott opened up on Friday about a devastating health battle she’ll face forever. The 41-year-old former footballer, known for her grit on the pitch and charm on screen, shared her story in a powerful new advert for pain-relief gel FlexiSeq, revealing her diagnosis of osteoarthritis—a condition that struck her far too young and refuses to let go.
Alex Scott got emotional on Friday as she opened up about a tough health battle she will have to live with for the rest of her life
It all started during an intense training session years ago, when a brutal slide-tackle from a teammate twisted her ankle in a way that screamed trouble. “I immediately knew ‘this is serious,'” Alex recounted, her voice laced with the shock of that day. Chronic pain set in, and the doctor’s verdict hit like a thunderbolt: osteoarthritis. “Arthritis? I’m in my twenties! I haven’t got arthritis,” she protested, capturing the disbelief that anyone in their prime would feel.
But Alex didn’t let the diagnosis define her. She powered through, finding ways to manage the pain and keep chasing her dreams on the football field. Even now, as she navigates life post-retirement, she admits it’s a lifelong companion. “I’ve now got to live with this problem and manage it for the rest of my career—and not only my career, but my life,” she explained. Importantly, Alex clarified that her 2017 retirement from Arsenal had nothing to do with the illness; it was simply time for a new chapter in her sporting journey.
!['It was a tough training session, and a slide-tackle rolled my ankle. I immediately knew "this is serious" I was in chronic pain and [the doctor] told me I've got osteoarthritis,' she revealed](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/11/28/20/104278987-15335939-image-a-78_1764360049635.jpg)
‘It was a tough training session, and a slide-tackle rolled my ankle. I immediately knew “this is serious” I was in chronic pain and [the doctor] told me I’ve got osteoarthritis,’ she revealed
![Alex continued: '[The condition] was never going to stop me doing what I wanted to do, what I wanted to achieve. You find a way. It's an invisible injury, but it really doesn't have to stop you'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/11/28/20/104280111-15335939-Alex_continued_The_condition_was_never_going_to_stop_me_doing_wh-a-87_1764362686858.jpg)
The I’m A Celebrity star emphasized resilience in the face of an “invisible injury” that can strike without warning. “That was hard for me at first as I’m someone who wants to push myself. But when the pain of osteoarthritis kicks in, that’s not always an option,” she shared. Yet, she’s learned to listen to her body: “Recently my arthritis has been really quite bad. I went running one day and the next day my ankle was just awful. I was going to a fashion event in London that evening and I couldn’t physically get my ankle into the boots I was meant to be wearing.”
That moment forced her back to a physio for help—a reminder that vulnerability isn’t weakness. “The key for me is being able to acknowledge when you’re struggling. There is no shame in putting your hand up and saying ‘I need help,'” Alex urged, turning her personal struggle into an inspiring message for others.
Amid this health revelation, Alex’s personal life is buzzing with romance and excitement. Her girlfriend, singer Jess Glynne, recently teased engagement plans after Alex hinted on I’m A Celebrity that she’s waiting for the big question. In the jungle, Alex gushed to campmates Ruby Wax and Shona McGarty: “I think before her, I never knew happiness… we fell madly in love. I will get married to her, just waiting for her to ask.” Jess, 36, caught the episode and playfully responded to fans: “Better go get a ring!”
Appearing on This Morning alongside Alex’s mum, Carol McKee, Jess faced the ultimate grilling from hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond. “She’s been talking about marriage. Have you got the ring yet?” they pressed. Jess coyly replied, “Yes,” before backpedaling with a laugh: “The pressure! Why do I have to ask her? It’s a weird one, you never know who will ask who but…” With a sly smile and hair flip, she left everyone guessing, as Alison quipped, “You know you’ve got the ring! Watch this space!”
Jess couldn’t hide her pride in Alex’s jungle journey: “I’m just proud of the conversations she’s having. Her bravery and just being true to who she is. That for me is coming across so well. I think she’s doing well. She struggled to have certain conversations anyway, and she’s so private… Then you see that and I’m like, ‘Wow. She’s really feeling comfortable.'”
Alex even opened up about her sexuality in camp, sharing how intimacy with women feels “more passionate” due to that deep emotional bond. “It’s completely different with women, especially for me. It’s always been about a deep emotional connection which then makes the sex more passionate than ever,” she confided. Carol, watching from home, joked, “I’m not too impressed… I really didn’t want to know about it!” But she’s beaming with pride: “I still think she’s got a lot more to give. She’s not actually really showing her full self yet.”
From the pitch to the spotlight, Alex Scott’s story is one of unbreakable spirit—proving that even life’s toughest tackles can’t keep a true champion down.