Inside ITV News star Rageh Omaar’s life off screen from ‘life altering’ role as a dad to losing beloved family member
RAGEH Omaar has been a much loved member of the ITV News team for years having managed to work his way up to becoming the show’s international affairs editor.
The journalist, 56, caused concern when he appeared to become seriously unwell during Friday night’s broadcast of News At Ten.
Rageh appeared shaky and stumbled over his words which caused alarm among viewers at home.
It was later confirmed that he received medical attention as soon as he came off air with his colleague, the broadcaster’s Royal Editor, Chris Ship, praising the ambulance service and paramedics for dealing with the matter efficiently.
Rageh later issued a statement to thank viewers for their overwhelming concern with ITV reiterating that the TV star was recovering at home in the wake of the scary circumstances.
He said: “I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and good wishes, especially all the medical staff, all my wonderful colleagues at ITV News, and our viewers who expressed concern.
“At the time, I was determined to finish presenting the programme. I am grateful for all the support I’ve been given.”
Away from his role at ITV, the star is a proud family man and a father of three who admitted that nothing could have ever prepared him for fatherhood.
PROUD FATHER
Somalian-born Rageh is married to his wife Georgiana Montgomery-Cuninghame with whom he has three children.
Georgiana is an Alexander Technique instructor – an alternative remedy practise for those suffering from poor posture and back issues.
His wife comes from a line of landowners and peers with her father being Sir John Christopher Foggo Montgomery Cuninghame of Corsehill, the 12th Baronet of Corsehill.
The couple’s eldest child Loula is believed to be aged 23 with Sami being one year younger as well as Zachary, 18.
In an interview with The Guardian in 2017, Rageh confessed that despite doing all the preparation possible, nothing could have prepared him for becoming a father.
He told the publication in a rare interview on his personal life: “Despite everything I had read and attending childbirth classes, nothing prepared me.
“Nina and I held Loula in our arms and it was so overwhelming and overpowering that I just sobbed.
“Having another life in your care was huge and that wonderful moment feels scarcely believable.”
CAREER CHOICES
Rageh also confessed that his father, who had created and ran a newspaper operation, was not keen on Rageh following suit into the world of journalism.
Instead, he wanted him to study law and to train to be a barrister.
Whilst Rageh did consider this line of work, he told how he struck a deal with his father after realising that journalism was his true passion.
He said: “We struck a deal: I said ‘I’ll try to become a journalist and if it doesn’t work after a few years, I’ll go ahead with law’.
“He lived to see that I made it and he was proud – and happy in the end. He said I had made the right choice.”
HEARTBREAKING FAMILY LOSS
Rageh was left floored when his beloved father passed away.
His father was aged 79 when he died 15 years ago.
Speaking about seeing his health detoriate, Rageh said: “It is a huge blow when reality strikes, but he’d not been well for some time and I’d seen his health deteriorate.
“Hundreds of people came to his funeral.
“I dealt with his death by trying to talk about it with my family and we always mark his anniversary.”
Who is ITV News presenter Rageh Omaar?
Rageh has been a familiar face on British screens for years on both the BBC and ITV
Rageh, 56, was born July 19, 1967 and is a Somali-born British journalist and writer – best known as a BBC world affairs correspondent, where he made his name reporting from Iraq.
He was born in Mogadishu, and moved to the UK when he was just two.
Rageh started his TV career at the BBC in 2004 where he worked in Ethiopia as the broadcaster’s first Africa correspondent.
In January 2013, he moved to ITV News where he became special correspondent.
The following year he was promoted International Affairs Editor and has became a regular fronting both the lunchtime and evening news bulletins since 2017.
On September 19, 2022, he was one of the Royal reporters covering the funeral of Queen Elizabeth.
Away from our screens, Rageh is married to Georgiana Rose Montgomery-Cuninghame and they have three children.
The 56-year-old presenter was fronting the flagship bulletin on Friday evening when he sparked concern as he appeared shaky on screen and struggled to get his words out.
He completed the broadcast, but a repeat of the programme was pulled from ITV’s +1 channel.
Many viewers took to social media to share their anger that Rageh was not pulled off the broadcast sooner.
One even accused producers of failing their ‘duty of care’.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the viewer raged: “Hope you’re OK @ragehomaar. I was appalled to see that@itvnews let you continue the broadcast.
“I’d have pulled you off at the first VT. Raises questions about duty of care.”
An ICU nurse watching tweeted ITV News telling them she called urging he be taken off air, adding that an emergency ambulance should have been summoned.
Former ITV News correspondent Angus Walker has also criticised the bulletin’s producers for not stepping in earlier amid the concern.
He wrote: “Wishing #RagehOmaar well. On a Fri eve the@itvnews newsroom is pretty empty even as News at Ten is on air but there is a duty Editor on call precisely to make any big calls.
“I’ve been asked to step in for a colleague who fell ill just before going live – can and has been done.”
One of his followers agreed, saying they should have pulled in Royal Editor Chris Ship to cover.