Louis Sealey
Published December 4, 2025 6:09am
Updated December 4, 2025 6:43am
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Ian Wright caught Laura Woods after she fell ill while presenting (Picture: ITV)
Ian Wright admits he was ‘worried’ for Laura Woods after the sports presenter collapsed live on air during ITV’s coverage of an England women’s game.
Woods was presenting the build-up to England’s 2-0 friendly win over Ghana at St Mary’s when she fell ill and collapsed.
The 38-year-old was caught by pundits Wright and Anita Asante before ITV cut to a shot of the teams warming up on the pitch.
Viewers could hear Wright and Asante comforting Woods before ITV4’s broadcast cut to an advert break.
Wright discussed the worrying incident for the first time on The Overlap podcast alongside Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane, Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher and Lionesses great Jill Scott.
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Asked for an update on Woods, ex-Arsenal and England striker Wright said: ‘She’s fine. I got a message from her this morning.
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Previous Page Next Page‘It was worrying at the time but she’s fine. People have been really nice about it. I’m glad she’s okay.’
Scott added: ‘She said that she thinks she’s got a virus but it must have been horrible for that to happen, on live TV as well.’
The group were keen to take a light-hearted approach to the incident, insisting that is what their colleague Woods ‘would want’ as she recovers.
‘I’m guessing she’s not the first woman to fall into your arms Ian,’ ex-United captain Keane joked. ‘That’s just your knack.
Popular sports presenter Woods (Picture: Getty)
‘She’s okay and that’s all that matters, that’s the most important thing, obviously. You’ll get a knighthood or an award for that, Wrighty.’
Woods’ fiance, the former Love Island contestant Adam Collard, reassured viewers that she was ‘ok’ and ‘with the right people’ after the worrying incident.
Woods, meanwhile, said she was ‘really embarrassed’ while thanking Wright, Asante and all her colleagues at ITV who ‘really looked after me’.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DK6ooUAshLe/?img_index=1
In a message to her followers on Instagram, Woods wrote: ‘Gosh that was a bit weird.
‘Sorry to worry everyone, I’m ok, the wonderful paramedics at Saints have said its probably a virus, just need a bit of rest and hydration.
‘I’m really embarrassed that happened on TV, but a big thank you to my colleagues at ITV who have really looked after me tonight.
‘And to Wrighty and Neets for catching me and sorry again.’
Fellow sports presenter Katie Shanahan stepped in to replace Woods after she received medical treatment at St Mary’s.
‘As you have probably noticed we don’t have the wonderful Laura Woods because she’s just been taken ill but she’s in very good hands so I’m stepping in at late notice,’ Shanahan said.
She’s in really good hands and we’re wishing her a speedy recovery. we want to reassure you she is doing okay. We all send her our love.’
Woods has been a consistent presence on TV screens in recent years, presenting both the 2023 Women’s World Cup and England’s victorious Euro 2025 campaign for ITV.
She also presents Champions League games for TNT Sport, having previously presented shows on radio station talkSPORT.
Woods got engaged with television personality and fitness coach Collard last year after he proposed on a beach in Cornwall.
The pair welcomed their first child, a boy named Leo Ernie Collard, in January before Woods returned to TV work in April.
After Woods’ health scare, England earned a 2-0 friendly win over Ghana through goals from Lucia Kendall and Alessia Russo.
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Laura Woods issues update after collapsing live on ITV: 'I'm really embarrassed'
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Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman said: ‘I hoped we would score more. I think if we had taken the chances better, it would have been more than this.
‘A lot of other players and we know as individuals they are really good but we have to make these connections again.
‘Ghana were strong in the duels and we wanted runs in the half spaces and get numbers in the box. We had some big opportunities. We weren’t that lucky at moments either.’
England’s next assignment is two 2027 World Cup qualifying games against Ukraine and Iceland in March.
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