Tonight’s Conservative Party leadership debate between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak has been scrapped after presenter Kate McCann fainted during the live broadcast.
Ms Truss held her hands to her face and said “oh my God” after a loud crash was heard – and then the contest was taken off air.
TalkTV said Ms McCann is “fine” but that the channel had been given medical advice not to continue.
“We apologise to our viewers and listeners,” it added in a statement.
As the debate was halted a message on TalkTV and The Sun’s stream read: “We’re sorry for the disruption to this programme”, following the incident.
Truss and Sunak TV debate halted after incident in studio – live updates
The channel started broadcasting again shortly after but cut to a different studio with presenter Ian Collins saying there had been a “medical issue”.
He said: “Everyone is OK so that is the good news. Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are still currently in the studio chatting with readers and answering those questions.”
A Sun spokeswoman confirmed the incident was paused over a “medical issue”, adding: “We hope to be back on air soon.”
But TalkTV later tweeted that Ms McCann, their political editor, is not expected back on air.
The debate was taken off air following the incident
Ms McCann was meant to appear alongside The Sun’s political editor Harry Cole, but he tested positive for COVID-19 earlier today.
Rishi Sunak has sent his well wishes to the presenter, tweeting: “Good news that you’re already recovering @KateEMcCann.
“It was a great debate and I look forward to getting grilled by you again shortly.”
The incident came as Mr Sunak and Ms Truss were clashing once again over taxes, NHS funding and the economy in their second head-to-head televised debate.
The Foreign Secretary looked visibly worried as she walked off the stage.