ITV hit by wave of Ofcom complaints after Rageh Omaar struck by mystery illness while presenting News at Ten

ITV have been hit by a wave of Ofcom complaints after Rageh Omaar was struck by a mystery illness while presenting the News at Ten.

Viewers were left concerned for the presenter after he began to struggle with his words during an item on weekend leisure time near the end of the programme on Friday.

Since the incident took place, 73 complaints have been made to broadcasting regulator Ofcom, as many felt the presenter should not have been allowed to continue.

ITV later revealed that Mr Omaar, 56, was receiving medical care and bosses claimed they had attempted to pull him off air. 

But Mr Omaar, 56, insisted that he continued and refused to hand over to a replacement host from the London regional news even though after the show he was taken straight to hospital.

An Ofcom spokesperson told GB News about the nature of the complaints, saying: 'Complaints raised concerns about Rageh Omaar's health during this broadcast.' 

An ITV News source told The Mail on Sunday: 'The programme team were trying to replace him when they realised there was a problem.

'They sent the standby presenter to the set to take over but he insisted on remaining on air. No-one could get him out of his chair. He refused to move. Even when he was told he had to go and that the team had called for medical help. Everyone did everything they could to help him. Rageh is a consummate professional.

'He was determined to finish what he had started. It was an awful, awful night.'  

According to the Times, ITV staff members were also unhappy that Mr Omaar was kept on air, with one source saying: 'There are big questions about why he was allowed to go on air... 

'Even if you think that he was just having an off day, you don't need a medical degree to see that it was clear when you watched that something was seriously wrong.' 

Mr Omaar, ITV News's International Affairs Editor, was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he then spent the night after staff at the broadcaster called paramedics. 

He was discharged on Saturday afternoon and was recovering with his family.