Richard Littlejohn writes that speculation about his absence over the past month is unfounded. In a piece published by Mail Online, he addresses rumours that he may have resigned, been sacked, or gone on strike, saying the real reason is “more mundane.” He states that he underwent a knee operation described as a “gammy knee op,” and frames the article as an explanation for his time away. The column characterizes the surgery as potentially beneficial beyond his own health, suggesting it could save costs for the NHS, though it does not provide detailed evidence or specific figures in the material available here. Across the provided sources, the central points are consistent: the author was absent for about a month, media or public discussion circulated multiple explanations, and he attributes his absence to recovering from knee surgery. Both entries are identical in wording and attribution, indicating they come from the same Mail Online column rather than separate reporting.