ITV News presenter hits out at broadcaster for not taking Rageh Omaar off air after he fell ill
AN ITV News presenter has slammed the channel for not taking newsreader Rageh Omaar off air after he fell ill during a live broadcast.
The network has already come under fire from fans after it became clear Rageh was unwell minutes into last night’s News At Ten – yet he was allowed to complete the full programme.
As ITV confirmed the presenter was receiving medical care and pulled a repeat of the programme from its +1 channel, former ITV News correspondent Angus Walker has criticised the bulletin’s producers for not stepping in earlier.
Taking to X, formerly twitter, Angus revealed what goes on behind the scenes and said this scenario has played out before.
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.
They fumed: “@chrisshipitv should have been made to xXx.”
The Sun has reached out to ITN for comment on Angus’s remarks.
Last night, an ITN spokesperson gave an update on his health, saying: “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.”
Viewers were unimpressed that he was allowed to continue with his job and, like Angus, questioned why nobody in the control room intervened.
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.
One asked: “What happened to him, is he ok & why didn’t they take him off air?”
A second added: “Hoping Rageh Omaar got the care he quite clearly needed after the ITV news tonight. Not entirely sure of the context and why he had to continue broadcasting, but I’m sure there will be an explanation in time.”
“Really upsetting viewing. Struggling to speak and slurring words,” weighed in a third.
While a fourth posted: “I thought he was just having problems with the auto cue but I hope he’s feeling better.”