Viewers were left concerned for the presenter as he suffered evident difficulties towards the end of the programme on Friday - and now a channel veteran has said there were warning signs.
ITV is facing fresh scrutiny over its duty of care to news anchor Rageh Omaar after it was suggested he already appeared ill the night before he struggled to speak during a bulletin broadcast.
Veteran presenter Nicholas Owen, who worked for ITV for decades, has today suggested Mr Omaar had been unwell the previous night Mr Owen added: 'Apparently he wasn't terribly well the previous night - so perhaps my dear colleagues, and I worked at ITV for many years very, very happily, perhaps they might have stepped in and just insisted he step back?
'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. READ MORE: Rageh Omaar: Somali-born Oxford-educated migrant hailed as the 'Scud Stud' for his coverage of Iraq war who married a baronet's daughter Advertisement 'He refused to move. Even when he was told he had to go and that the team had called for medical help.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.
'At the time, I was determined to finish presenting the programme. I am grateful for all the support I've been given.' MailOnline has approached ITV and ITN for further comment today, while Ofcom said it could not confirm whether it had been contacted by viewers.
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