REGIS PHILBIN - PHILBIN SURGERY 'SUCCESSFUL'

LATEST: US TV veteran REGIS PHILBIN underwent a successful triple heart bypass operation on Wednesday morning (14MAR07). The talk show host, 75, told viewers of his morning show LIVE! WITH REGIS AND KELLY on Monday (12MAR07) he would be having the surgery after feeling shortness of breath and chest pains in recent weeks. Philbin has taken five weeks off hosting Live! to recover from the operation, which was carried out by Doctor O WAYNE ISOM at the Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. His co-host KELLY RIPA told viewers this morning (15MAR07) that Philbin came through the operation "with flying colours" and was already "up, joking around with the nurses" and "harassing people".