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 believed to have fallen ill during her friend Angela Rippon’s birthday party and an ambulance rushed to her aid on Monday night.

The birthday party was apparently brought to a sudden halt after the newsreader collapsed while enjoying the celebration at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, London.

Moira, 74, was reportedly helped by her former colleagues including Louise Minchin and Michael Buerk, who rushed to her aid following the ‘funny turn’.

According to The Sun’s source the room was cleared for Moira, who apparently soon insisted that she was feeling fine following the ‘scary’ episode.

Staff at the hotel are said to have called for an ambulance to check Moira out ‘just in case’, after she fell while standing at the bar among the other party guests.

Moria Stewart fell ill during Angela Rippon’s birthday party and an ambulance rushed to her aid on Monday night

Moira leaves the party and gets a taxi after she collapsed at the birthday party

Moira heads home from the party after suffering a funny turn

An onlooker said: ‘Moira took a funny turn when Angela’s party was in full swing. She had been in great spirits on the night and spent 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 looked after by Louise and Michael and an ambulance was called just in case.’ MailOnline have contacted representatives for Moira for further comment.

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

The celebrity guest list included Lulu and Stanley Johnson, as well as her Strictly Come Dancing professional dance partner Kai Widdrington.

Pictures taken of Moira, who wore a blue blouse with black trousers, show her in high spirits during the evening as she chatted to Angela.

She was later pictured leaving the venue following her fall, while an ambulance was also spotted waiting outside the hotel.

TV presenter Angela appeared on last year’s series of the BBC ballroom dance contest and also took part in the live tour this year with her pro partner Kai, 28.

An ambulance pictured outside the London Hilton on Park Lane

The birthday party was brought to a sudden halt after the veteran newsreader collapsed while enjoying the celebration at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane

According to The Sun’s source the room was cleared for Moira, who apparently soon insisted that she was feeling fine following the ‘scary’ episode

Moira was reportedly helped by her colleagues including Louise Minchin and Michael Buerk who rushed to her aid following the funny turn (pictured with Camilla Tominey)

Angela showed off her dance moves with Strictly partner Kai Widdrington at the party

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

After receiving treatment from paramedics on site, she explained that she could breathe again but was prescribed two days of bed rest by the doctor, causing her to miss shows in Leeds.

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

Veteran broadcaster Moira was made a CBE for her services to media by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace in London in November 2022.

Moira was the first African-Caribbean woman to read the news on British television.

Moira became a Radio 4 newsreader and programme presenter after beginning 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 nearly five decades, after returning to read the news bulletins on Chris Evans’ BBC Radio 2 breakfast in 2010.

Moira was a BBC newsreader until she retired in 2007

Veteran broadcaster Moira made a CBE for her services to media the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace in London in November 2022 (pictured)

Moira, who was the first African-Caribbean woman to read the news on British television, was among a number of people recognised with royal honours

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

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

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

Born in Hampstead, London, her TV presenting roles have included 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 in 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 newscaster of the year in the 1988 TV and Radio Industries Club Awards and the Women of Achievement television personality prize 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 an interview in 2017, Moira revealed that she no longer drinks after she ‘developed problems with alcohol’ (stock image from 2010)

During an interview in 2017 with Chris,  Moira revealed that she no longer drinks after she ‘developed problems with alcohol’.

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

But she was forced to quit drinking after developing health problems.

At the time, Chris was quizzing Moira about dry January, where drinkers abstain from alcohol for a month, and asked if she had ever drank.

She replied: ‘Oh I did. Oh Yes. I used to when I was a child, yes notorious at weddings, going round and drinking everybody’s.’

Chris replied: ‘Minesweeping is what it’s called. You were an early minesweeper. And that put you off for life?’

Moira said: ‘Um no. I developed problems with alcohol so I just left it alone. They weren’t hangovers, migraines – alcohol doesn’t do it for me, along with cheese and chocolate. I’m telling you it’s been rougher than tough.’