Laura Woods taken ill during live ITV broadcast
A sudden interruption on air
Viewers following ITV4’s coverage of England’s friendly match against Ghana were met with confusion when presenter Laura Woods appeared to lose her balance mid sentence. The moment occurred during the build up to the match from Southampton, where the 38 year old was joined by former England players Ian Wright and Anita Asante.
According to ITV’s live broadcast, Woods leaned forward unexpectedly while speaking and seemed to faint. The camera feed quickly shifted to a wide shot of the stadium, though the microphones remained live long enough for Wright to ask, “Are you okay?” before the programme moved into an advert break.
Replacement presenter steps in
When the coverage resumed, Scottish swimmer and occasional sports presenter Katie Shanahan was on screen in Woods’ place. Shanahan told viewers that Woods had been taken ill and that production staff were looking after her off camera. She continued hosting for the remainder of the segment, something many viewers later praised her for on social media.
Woods’ fiancé, Adam Collard, later reassured the public in a post on X, writing that she was “all ok and with the right people.” ITV has not yet released an official statement.
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Who is Laura Woods?
For audiences less familiar with British sports television, Woods is one of the UK’s most recognisable football presenters.
She began her career in production before moving into front line broadcasting and has worked with major outlets including ITV, Amazon Prime and TNT Sports. Known for her interviews and pitch side coverage, she returned to screens earlier this year after giving birth to her son, Leo, in January.
Woods grew up in Dagenham and has become a prominent voice in women’s football in particular, regularly covering the England Women’s team during major tournaments and friendlies.
Reaction from viewers and colleagues
Messages of concern surfaced quickly online, with many viewers expressing shock at seeing a presenter fall ill mid broadcast. Others highlighted the quick reaction of Wright and Asante, who moved toward Woods as she collapsed, as well as Shanahan, who handled the unexpected handover calmly.
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The match itself continued uninterrupted. England took an early lead through Lucia Kendall, while forward Chloe Kelly was later substituted due to injury.
Why the incident drew attention
Live television rarely leaves room for unexpected moments, and health scares involving presenters often prompt immediate concern from audiences. Woods’ popularity, combined with the growth of women’s football viewership in the UK, meant the incident spread quickly across social platforms.
The friendly against Ghana was the final fixture in England’s homecoming schedule following their Euro 2025 victory, drawing a larger than usual audience for a non competitive match.
Outlook
As of now, there has been no further update from ITV, but Collard’s statement suggests Woods is recovering. Broadcasters often withhold detailed medical information until presenters choose to share it themselves, meaning more news may follow later in the week.
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Sources
ITV broadcast
LADbible
BBC Sport
The Guardian
AP News
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