Jessica Rowe looks downcast as she disembarks a Disney cruise with her daughters as her husband Peter Overton suffers terrifying health scare and undergoes operation

Jess Rowe looked downcast on Tuesday as she disembarked a Disney-themed cruise in Sydney with her two teenage daughters shortly after informing her fans about her husband Peter Overton's recent health scare.

The former Studio Ten host, 54, revealed that doctors had found a polyp on one of his vocal cords and the veteran Channel Nine newsreader had to undergo surgery. 

Peter, 58, has been absent from presenting duties on Nine News for several months.

Jess shared a photo to Instagram of Peter hugging their pet dog and captioned it with some alarming words.

'Peter doesn't do Insta and he wanted me to share some news. He's off work for a little longer at the moment,' she wrote.

'After an Ear Nose and Throat surgeon discovered a polyp on one of his vocal cords, which explains his very raspy voice over the holidays.'

A vocal cord polyp is a small, non-cancerous growth that can make your voice hoarse or raspy, often caused by overuse or irritation. 

Recovery usually involves rest, therapy, and sometimes minor surgery. 

She added that Peter had already been in surgery and had to minimise his speaking as part of the recovery process, meaning he wouldn't be able to return to work for some time.

'He was operated on. Part of his recovery is no talking for now (which is a HUGE challenge for him!!) Hopefully he’ll be back to Nine News soonish,' she explained. 

'Big thanks to the great doctors, nurses, speech pathologist and Pete's wonderful work colleagues.'

Meanwhile, Jess looked somewhat downcast as she disembarked the Disney cruise in Sydney on Tuesday with her two girls, Allegra, 17, and Giselle, 15.

The former TV star looked the part in a quirky black and white top adorned with cartoon characters and a pair of Mickey Mouse printed trousers as she made her way off the cruise ship. 

She accessorised with a costume jewellery tiara worn on her head and had her hands full with colourful bags, including one with leopard print and feathers.

Many of Jess' celebrity friends quickly took to the comment section of her post to wish the veteran newsman a speedy recovery.

'Get well soon,' wrote Karl Stefanovic's wife Jasmine.

'We miss you Pete! Sending you love and healing during this time,' added Married At First Sight's Domenica Calarco. 

British TV presenter Trisha Goddard chipped in: 'Sending love.'

Peter has presented Nine News Sydney since 2009, and his current co-host is Georgie Gardner. 

It is the second significant health challenge Peter has experienced over the past year.

In April, he had to take some time off work after undergoing hip replacement surgery.

Peter and Jess first met when Jess was doing work experience at Channel Nine when she was 19.

Jess said Peter was one of the few people who spoke to her during her work experience stint, and they saw each other again years later at the Logies.

'As we were talking I was thinking, "Why can't I meet a nice man like this? Why am I not attracting really good, decent people like this beautiful man?"' she told Mamamia in May 2018.

In January the happy couple celebrated 21 years of marriage.