Bert Newton recovering, surgery goes to plan.

Bert Newton is now recovering in intensive care at Epworth Hospital after undergoing quadruple heart bypass surgery this morning.

In a statement the hospital confirmed, ‘‘Bert Newton’s heart surgery has been completed. His surgeon said everything proceeded according to plan and he is very happy with how things went.

“Bert is now resting comfortably in intensive care. We are keeping a close eye on him in the ICU as we do all our patients.”

The 74-year-old underwent a six-hour operation at 6am this morning after he was admitted by doctors on Wednesday following chest pains.

A Nine spokesperson yesterday said, “He has stents in his heart, so there is nothing further they can do [apart from surgery]. He knew he would have to have surgery eventually.”

Yesterday Newton gave upbeat interviews to media still with his trademark wit, saying he wasn’t scared, but admitting to apprehensions.

“I’m in the hands of a good doctor,” he said.

“A lot of people have said, ‘Are you nervous?’, but I’m not really nervous.

“I’ve always been the sort of person who is not nervous before or during the show. I get more nervous afterwards.”

Patti Newton told Channel Nine, ‘‘He always puts on a brave front but this has … hit him a bit.

‘‘I’m a bit fragile today … we’ve been together more than I’ve been without him.’’

But she had also been inundated with well-wishes and messages of support.

“I got one from Rove last night, saying, don’t let anything happen to Bert, we love him…. and Molly, and all those people,” she said.

Newton will spend at least two weeks in hospital with more rehabilitation to follow.

Source: Herald Sun, The Age