ITV News has received backlash for its decision to allow presenter Rageh Omar to continue presenting News at Ten after he “fell ill”.
Rageh Omaar, 56, was presenting on Friday when he appeared to have difficulty reading his lines, sparking concern online.
Omaar continued until the end of the show before saying goodbye. ITV subsequently redacted its scheduled repeat on ITV+1 before a spokesperson confirmed that the presenter had “become ill while he was presenting… and is now receiving medical attention”.
Users took to Twitter/X to express their concerns and share messages of well wishes. One user wrote: “Rageh Omaar was clearly struggling Thursday night (24 hours earlier) – big questions about duty of care here.”
Another wrote: “About last night’s ITV News scenes and wishing Rageh Omaar a speedy recovery.”
‘Why didn’t ITV immediately stop the broadcast and provide help?’ the user continued.
Fiona Clark, a staff nurse, claimed that she had called the station at 10:10 pm and told them that “as an ICU nurse who worked on a stroke, Rageh Omaar required an emergency ambulance, she had dysphasia , his left eye was drooping, his speech was slurred, and he had all the FAST symptoms.
ITV News confirmed that Omaar had “become ill” but provided no further details.
Rageh Omaar, 56, international affairs editor at ITV News, was reviewing the day’s top stories on News at 10 when he suddenly became incoherent while on air.
Omaar, a Somali-born British journalist, joined ITV News in 2013 and became its international affairs editor in 2014.
Omaar was presenting the News at Ten program on Friday night when he appeared to have difficulty presenting a bulletin.
The International Affairs editor continued to the end of the segment and thanked viewers before the credits rolled.
The credits continue for almost 20 seconds while the camera remains focused on the presenter.
News at Ten usually lasts 30 minutes from 10pm.
Viewers immediately took to social media to share their concern for Omaar, with an ICU nurse claiming to have contacted ITV News at 10.10pm to warn them of possible stroke symptoms.
Investigative journalist Mark Williams-Thomas wrote: “It was clear #RagehOmaar was unwell last night, that’s when you need the people in the gallery to step up and go straight to VT.”
“It appears paramedics were called and he was taken to hospital. I wish him well and ITV News will now have to review this to ensure any welfare issues are caught and treated sooner.”
Indian broadcaster Willoughby wrote on Twitter/X: ‘Hope (Rageh Omaar) is doing well, one of my favorite news readers.
‘I’m worried to see what happened but it’s unfair to blame those in the gallery (ITV News) for moving on.
‘It’s live TV, maybe only 2 people in the gallery on a Friday night. I’m sure they’ve asked if it’s okay. Get well soon Rageh Omaar’
Fiona Clark, an ICU nurse, wrote on Twitter/X: “Unfortunately something I have seen regularly as a stroke nurse, absolutely shocked at the lack of urgency in getting medical attention.”
“After speaking to other experienced stroke nurses, it was definitely a positive FAST call, hoping to get the right care now.”
FAST is an acronym used as a test to detect symptoms of a possible stroke.
Facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems indicate it’s time to call emergency services, according to the mnemonic.
“I told them their host wasn’t feeling well, they told me they were aware,” Clark said.
“We are aware that viewers are concerned for Rageh Omaar’s welfare,” an ITV News spokesperson said last night.
‘Rageh felt unwell while presenting News at Ten on Friday and is now receiving medical attention. He thanks everyone for their good wishes.’
ITV+1 also pulled the show from its reruns, as an on-screen message read: “We’ll be back soon.” We are temporarily unable to offer you our +1 service. We will resume shortly.’
As of Saturday morning, the ITV X website was not showing the ITV News at Ten programme.
He won numerous awards for his exceptional journalism during his time in the Middle East, including a Peabody Award for his work in Sudan.
ITV+1 subsequently removed the show from its reruns. A message on the screen said: ‘We will be back soon. We are temporarily unable to offer you our service +1’
Omaar, a Somali-born British journalist, rose to global fame thanks to his work as a BBC foreign correspondent 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 reporting for the BBC from Sudan and a BAFTA for the BBC’s coverage of the invasion of Afghanistan.
There, Omaar was the only Western television journalist reporting from inside Taliban-controlled Kabul.
Following this, he worked at Al Jazeera International from 2006 to 2010, where he presented the weeknight documentary series Witness and served as Middle East correspondent for its London Division.
He joined ITV News as a special correspondent and presenter in January 2013, reporting on a wide range of news, as well as producing in-depth special reports from across the UK and abroad.
MailOnline has contacted ITV News for comment.
