ITV News viewers have raised concerns tonight after a presenter seemed to stumble over his words and struggle to read the news bulletins.
Rageh Omaar, 56, the ITV News International Affairs Editor was rounding up the top stories of the day on the News at Ten show when he suddenly becomes incoherent while live on air.
Although it is still unclear what exactly was wrong, ITV News have confirmed that he is ‘now receiving medical care’.
ITV+1 later pulled the programme from its re-runs, as a message on screen said: ‘We’ll be back soon. We’re temporarily unable to bring you our +1 service.
‘We will resume shortly.’
An ITV News spokesperson said: ‘We are aware that viewers are concerned about Rageh Omaar’s wellbeing.
‘Rageh became unwell while presenting News at Ten on Friday and is now receiving medical care. He thanks everyone for their well wishes.’
In the video, Mr Omaar appears to become shaky and struggles to get his words out when discussing a segment on weekend life.
Viewers were quick to raise their concerns on social media with one user saying: ‘I hope he is ok and nothing seriosuly wrong.’
Another said: ‘What happened to him, is he ok & why didn’t they take him off air?’
While a third said: ‘I thought he was just having problems with the auto cue but I hope he’s feeling better.’
A fourth angrily wrote: ‘I actually can’t believe ITV let Rageh Omaar do the whole 30 minute show.
‘If he’s ill they have a duty of care to him, if he was under the influence they have a responsibility to the viewers. Seriously hope he is OK because that was tough to watch.’
Mr Omaar, a Somali-born British journalist rose to global prominance through his work as a foreign correspondent for the BBC during the invasion of Iraq and the fall of Baghdad in 2003.
He won numerous awards for his exceptional work during this time, including a Peabody Award for his reports for the BBC from Sudan and a BAFTA for the BBC’s coverage of the invasion of Afghanistan in which he was the only western TV journalist to report from inside Taliban-held Kabul.
After this he worked at Al Jazeera English from 2006-2010, where he presented the nightly weekday documentary series Witness, serving as a Middle Eastern correspondent for its London Division.
He joined ITV News as a special correspondent and presenter in January 2013, reporting on a broad range of news stories, as well as producing special in-depth reports from all around the UK and abroad.
Before being promoted to International Affairs Editor for ITV News in 2014.
Just this month the father-of-three found himself in hot water with some football fans over comments he made about the Premier League title race.
A self-professed Arsenal fan, Mr Omaar hilariously said: ‘To sport now and the tussle for the Premier League title is still as close as anything after Liverpool returned to the top of the table.
‘They beat bottom club Sheffield United 3-1. Alexis Mac Allister got the goal that turned the game, so Liverpool are, regrettably, two points clear of Arsenal.’
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
