ITV
Rageh Omaar ‘receiving medical care’ after becoming unwell during News at Ten
Rageh Omaar is receiving medical treatment after appearing unwell during Friday’s News at Ten.
During the broadcast, social media became awash with posts concerned for the 56-year-old presenter who was throughout the entire half-hour programme struggling to read his script from the autocue. ITN who produce the programme also came in for criticism for letting Rageh remain onscreen throughout rather than pull the programme. Subsequently, News at Ten was dropped from the ITV1+1 and STV+1 repeat an hour later and it wasn’t available on ‘catch-up’ services.
How the hell could @itvnews let Rageh Omaar carry on reading the news? So obvious the poor man was struggling. They should have gone to a break or stopped the programme altogether. Get well soon Rageh
— 𝔾𝔼𝕆🏴🏴🏴 (@geo_geo_geo1971) April 27, 2024
Omaar works for ITV News as their international affairs editor as well as one of a rotation of hosts for News at Ten whose lead anchor is Tom Bradby. Rageh was formerly a foreign correspondent for BBC News. For ITV1 he has also fronted their On Assignment series.
Rageh Omaar presenting News at Ten in December 2021
“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.” – ITN statement
ITN released a statement noting that Omaar is getting medical supervision however they haven’t confirmed his condition or what happened during the live news programme. In a deleted X post ITV News’ royal editor Chris Ship praised the NHS and London paramedics while Marverine Cole, a newsreader for ITV’s Good Morning Britain, said she wished Omaar “all the very best” and Channel 4 News journalist Ayshah Tull also took to X to wish Omaar “a speedy recovery.”
@itvnews I called you at 22.10
And told you as an ICU nurse who worked in stroke that @ragehomaar required an emergency ambulance, he was dysphasic, drooped left eye, slurred speech and agitated all FAST symptoms, time is critical in stroke which is a medical emergency— Fiona Clark 💙 (@ClarkFee) April 26, 2024
ATV Today has chosen not to use any photos or footage from last night’s News at Ten and wish Rageh Omaar a speedy recovery.
