ITV News’ Charlene White issues health update on co-star Rageh Omaar after he fell ill live on air in shocking report

ITV News presenter Charlene White has issued a rare health update on her colleague Rageh Omaar after the star fell ill live on air.

The TV star left viewers worried when he was rushed to hospital following a broadcast of News At Ten where he seemingly became poorly and struggled with his speech.

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ITV

His colleague Charlene has now revealed that the ITV team are in daily contact with Rageh during his recovery from the medical episode.

Speaking at the 2024 TV BAFTA Awards, Charlene also admitted that Rageh would open up on the scary situation in his own time.

Charlene told The Sun: “Rageh is doing really well.

“I think when he wants to talk about what happened then he will.

“ITV News is a family, we have been checking up on him daily and continuously in fact to make sure he has the support he needs.”

Charlene has worked alongside Rageh at newsreaders at ITV for a number of years and she thanked fans for their support and concern for her TV pal.

The scary situation occurred last month when Rageh was raced to hospital within moments off coming off the air as he appeared to suffer from a medical emergency.

Just minutes into the ITV News show, those watching at home noticed how the journalist and anchor appeared shaky on screen and was struggling to speak.

Although he has yet to disclose the full reasoning behind his illness, Rageh did address his fans in a statement released shortly after he was taken unwell.

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.”

Many viewers were left furuious that the star was allowed to be on TV and they 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’.

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.

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.”

ITV

Alamy