Friends of TalkTV host Kate McCann said she is doing good today after passing out during last night’s Tory leadership debates in front of astonished Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak while live on air.
Since the dramatic event that ended the programme, the Westminster political correspondent has been the centre of attention.
Miss McCann is a well-liked figure among Westminster journalists and is regarded as a “rising star” in her field.
In January, she left her position as political correspondent at Sky News to join TalkTV as its political editor.
The presenter, who is in her early 30s, earned a degree in politics from Newcastle University in 2009 and joined the Guardian after working briefly as a parliamentary researcher.
She briefly worked as a Whitehall correspondent for The Sun and as a political journalist for business publication City AM before joining the Telegraph as one of its top political correspondents.
In addition to her previous accomplishments, Miss McCann led the Press Gallery in 2018.
In more than 200 years, she was just the second woman to occupy the position.
When discussing her shift to talkTV earlier this year with Press Gazette, Miss McCann expressed excitement about the network’s ability to “tear up all the rules and start afresh.”
She added that her family’s motto, “Dare to be different,” felt appropriate for the new endeavour.
Discussing Miss McCann’s hiring, Scott Taunton, CEO of News UK Broadcasting, claimed that the journalist was ‘the obvious candidate’ to be its political editor’.
She is “one of the sharpest rising stars in the Lobby,” he continued.
For getting a copy of the Labour manifesto, which was the first party’s manifesto to be leaked to a newspaper in its full, Kate received a special honour at the 2017 Press Awards.
Following last night’s event, which happened as Miss McCann was presenting alone after co-host Harry Cole contracted Covid, her fellow journalists have extended their best wishes to her.
I’ve seen some cunning ways to become the biggest celebrity at @TalkTV, but this is insane @KateEMcCann,’ Piers Morgan commented. I’m pleased you’re okay, really.
Until this incident, you were excellent, and you’ll be brilliant in the rematch.
Tom Newton Dunn, a fellow TalkTV anchor, stated: “I know that @KateEMcCann is one of the very best in the profession at calling politicians to account. We work with her every night.”
She demonstrated this during the debate’s opening period, and she will do so once more.
She has a wonderful skill, and I am really proud of her.
Presenter Kay Burley of Sky News continued, “@KateEMcCann was doing a sensational job.” I’m very glad to hear that she’s ok.
I have no doubt that the candidates will return to carry on the discussion under her good direction. Kate X, get some rest.
Around 30 minutes into the TalkTV/The Sun event, Ms. Truss was responding to a question when Miss McCann’s emotional moment tonight occurred.
The Foreign Secretary, who was obviously alarmed, held her face in shock and cried out, “Oh my God!” in response to a loud boom.
Ms. Truss was then seen moving in the direction of Miss McCann as Mr. Sunak approached to hold her hand.
We apologise for the interruption to this programme, viewers were informed as the broadcast feed was abruptly cut off.
We’re working hard to fix the issue and will return to normal programming soon.’
After a protracted break in the programme, viewers questioned what had happened in the studio until it was revealed that there had been a “medical issue” that had caused the disruption.
TalkTV afterwards issued a statement confirming that the remaining portion of the discussion would not go forward: “Kate McCann fainted on broadcast tonight and although she is alright, the medical advise was that we shouldn’t continue with the debate.” We are sorry to our listeners and viewers.
The possibility of continuing their discussion on TalkTV at a later time was mentioned by both Tory leadership hopefuls.
Mr. Sunak tweeted to Miss McCann and said, “Good news that you’re already healing”.
It was a terrific discussion, and I’m looking forward to you grilling me soon!
Relieved to hear @KateEMcCann is okay, Ms. Truss tweeted. I’m sorry to see such a terrific discussion come to an end.
Be on the lookout for Kate and the rest of the @TheSun @TalkTV team in the near future.