Moira Stuart, 74, collapses as former colleagues rush to the ex-newsreader's aid and call an ambulance during Angela Rippon's birthday party

Moira Stuart is said to have fallen ill during her friend Angela Rippon's birthday party and an ambulance came to her aid on Monday evening.

The birthday party was apparently stopped suddenly after the newsreader collapsed while enjoying the celebration at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, London.

Moira, 74, was reportedly helped by her colleagues, including Louise Minchin and Michael Buerk, who came to her rescue after the funny twist.

According to That of the sun The room was cleared for Moira, who apparently quickly insisted she was feeling fine after the 'scary' episode.

Hotel staff are said to have called an ambulance to check on Moira after she fell while standing at the bar among other partygoers.

An onlooker said: 'Moira took a funny turn when Angela's party was in full swing. She was in a good mood that evening, spending time with Angela and Lulu, who was also a guest, at the Hilton.

'It all happened very quickly and out of nowhere Moira, who was standing at the bar, had fallen to the floor.

'She was cared for by Louise and Michael and an ambulance was called just in case.' MailOnline has contacted Moira's representatives for further comment.

The party was hosted by Angela to mark a belated 79th birthday and to mark the end of the Strictly Come Dancing tour.

The TV presenter appeared in the series of the BBC ballroom dancing competition last year and also took part in this year's live tour with her professional partner Kai Widdrington, 28.

Broadcaster Angela was the presenter of the BBC's original dance competition show Come Dancing between 1988 and 1991.

Angela completed the Strictly tour but suffered a health blow towards the end when a 'severe asthma attack' caused her to stop breathing.

In an Instagram post earlier this month, she said she had been dancing on stage in Liverpool on Wednesday night when she suffered the 'major medical meltdown'.

After being treated by paramedics at the scene, she explained that she could breathe again, but the doctor prescribed two days of bed rest, forcing her to miss shows in Leeds.

Angela confirmed she was 'fit dancing' again and rejoined the tour at Manchester's AO Arena with her dance partner Kai.

Experienced broadcaster Moira has been awarded a CBE for her services as media player for the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace in London in November 2022.

Moira, the first Afro-Caribbean woman to read the news on British television, was among a number of people recognized with royal honors.

Moira became a newsreader and program presenter for Radio 4 after starting her BBC career as a radio production assistant in the 1970s.

She enjoyed a history-making career in radio and television at the BBC, spanning almost five decades, after returning in 2010 to read the news bulletins on Chris Evans' BBC Radio 2 breakfast.

She left the BBC after 26 years in 2007, when the BBC unceremoniously announced her departure.

The statement led to accusations that the Corporation did not want older women on screen and led to a series of complaints from MPs that she should be reinstated immediately.

Moira eventually returned to the BBC in 2010, when she became the main newsreader on Radio 2's breakfast show.

Born in Hampstead, London, her TV presenting roles include The Andrew Marr Show, BBC Breakfast and News After Noon.

The broadcaster joined Classic FM in 2019 to become the station's morning newsreader and presents Moira Stuart Meets…, featuring interviews with famous faces from the arts, politics, sport and entertainment.

She has also presented documentaries including In Search Of Wilberforce for BBC Television and BBC World Service documentary The Unknown Soldier.

Moira received an honorary doctorate from the University of Edinburgh in 2006 and an honorary doctorate from Canterbury Christ Church University in January 2013.

The journalist has won numerous awards, including Best Newsreader of the Year at the 1988 TV and Radio Industries Club Awards and the Women of Achievement television personality award a year later.

More recently, she received the Harvey Lee Award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting at the Broadcasting Press Guild (BPG) ceremony in March 2020.

During a 2017 interview with Chris, Moira revealed that she no longer drinks after 'developing problems with alcohol'.

She told listeners of Chris' breakfast show on Radio 2 in February 2017 that she used to enjoy a drink, especially at weddings.

But she was forced to give up drinking after developing health problems.

Chris then quizzed Moira about Dry January, when drinkers go without alcohol for a month, and asked if she had ever had a drink.

She replied, “Oh, I did.” Oh yeah. As a child I was already notorious at weddings, I went around and drank from everyone.'

Chris replied, “It's called minesweeping. You were an early minesweeper. And that has put you off for life?'

Moira said, “Um, no. I started having problems with alcohol so I just left it alone. They weren't hangovers or migraines – alcohol doesn't work for me, neither do cheese and chocolate. I tell you it was more hard than hard.”

A year earlier, The Daily Mail revealed how BBC Radio 4 Today presenter John Humphrys told Moira she was 'sensationally sexy' after a news bulletin.

He is believed to have said: 'You are the most sensationally sexy lady I know. The best we can do for the next few hours is make crazy, passionate love in the basement.”

Moira then clarified that the program was recorded for the deaf community so that the audience could lip-read every word he had said.