ITV News viewers expressed concern on social media after presenter Mary Nightingale appeared breathless and unwell during a broadcast on Tuesday, November 10. The 63-year-old broadcaster, who has anchored the evening news since 2001, was reporting on David Walliams' allegations and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first public outing since Thomas Markle's arrest.
Viewers Notice Something Wrong
During the near 40-minute programme, one viewer took to X/Twitter to ask: "Is the newsreader Mary Nightingale ok? Her voice sounds very wobbly, and she sounds breathless tonight." Other viewers quickly agreed, with one saying: "Yep, was definitely struggling; I was surprised that she wasn’t subbed."
A third viewer noted: "Been like that for a while now; hopefully nothing too serious." Another suggested: "Most likely upset at the news today! Empathy for the women in her report." A fifth chimed in: "That’s what I said! Breathless and wobbly." Another shared: "She’s been like it for a while now. I hope she’s ok."
Mary's Report on Walliams
As the programme continued, Mary could be heard taking longer and deeper breaths between sentences while discussing the repercussions Walliams is facing following the three-year investigation led by ITV and The Guardian. Regarding the government's response, she said: "Downing Street called the allegations deeply troubling. This afternoon he was dropped by his long-term literary agent, the Labour Party suspended him as a member, and the BBC said it is in the process of removing programmes starring him, including Little Britain."
Mary's Past Comments on Her Voice
Although Mary has never publicly confirmed any serious illnesses or medical conditions affecting her voice, she has previously spoken about how reporting on emotional news "makes my voice go." Speaking to Radio Times in 2022, she confessed that during the coronavirus pandemic her voice "failed" her while reading out the tragic death figures.
She explained: "I do feel like crying sometimes, but I don’t think it’s helpful. The effort to not cry often makes my voice go. During the pandemic, while reading out death figures every day and some of the very sad, difficult stories, my voice slightly failed me sometimes, almost like it didn’t want to say the words."
