BBC TV presenter Andrew Marr suffers stroke: Fitness fanatic rushed to hospital after falling ill at London home

• BBC issues statement revealing he was taken to hospital on Tuesday
• Doctors say corporation's ex political editor is 'responding to treatment'
• Colleagues left stunned and concerned after hearing of stroke
• Acting BBC chief Tim Davie said: 'I am very sorry to hear the news.'

Stroke victim Andrew Marr is a keen long-distance runner. Here he is pictured in Blackpool

Andrew Marr, one of the BBC's most prominent and popular broadcasters, has suffered a stroke.
The veteran journalist, 53, was taken to hospital on Tuesday evening after falling ill at his London home.
He was said to be responding to treatment, and his condition was not thought to be life-threatening.
Colleagues were left stunned and concerned when the BBC issued a statement at around 7pm which revealed Marr's illness.
The corporation said: 'Andrew Marr was taken ill yesterday and taken to hospital. The hospital confirmed he has had a stroke.
'His doctors say he is responding to treatment. His family have asked for their privacy to be respected as he recovers.
'We will continue to broadcast The Andrew Marr Show and Radio 4's Start The Week with guest presenters in his absence. His colleagues and the whole BBC wish him a speedy recovery.'
It is understood that Marr's family are with him at the hospital. It is believed he has been conscious and talking, but there is still concern as the condition of stroke sufferers can fluctuate, particularly in the early stages.
An insider, who said there were 'a lot of shocked people at Broadcasting House', admitted it was too soon to say what the long-term implications would be for the broadcaster’s health and career.
The former BBC political editor, who lives in East Sheen, south-west London, interviewed the Prime Minister David Cameron at the weekend on his Sunday morning show on BBC1.
Labour leader Ed Miliband was also due to appear on The Andrew Marr Show this Sunday in his first big political interview of 2013. However, the BBC said that James Landale will stand in to present it.
Deputy PM and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg was lined up to follow next week, as part of Marr's traditional round of New Year grillings with Westminster's big beasts.

 

He is known to be a fitness fanatic and takes regular exercise wherever he is filming. He is a keen runner and always abstains from alcohol during January.
The BBC's Acting Director-General Tim Davie said: 'I am very sorry to hear the news about Andrew. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back at the BBC soon.'

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Andrew Marr, pictured here with his wife Jackie Ashley, was rushed to hospital after suffering a stroke

Andrew Marr (left) interviewing the Prime Minister David Cameron (right) on The Andrew Marr Show broadcast on January 6

Andrew Marr's book The Making Of Modern Britain was a hit and spawned a BBC2 documentary

Labour leader Ed Miliband took to Twitter to show his concern for Andrew Marr

Andrew Marr with his wife Jackie Ashley pictured arriving at the home of Sir David Frost in London, for his annual garden party (left) and arriving for the launch of Tina Brown's new book in June 2007

'Terrible to hear Andrew Marr has had a stroke. Pauline and I send all our very best wishes to Andrew and Jackie Ashley.'

John Prescott, on Twitter

Last night major figures in news and the arts wished the presenter well. Author Salman Rushdie said: 'So sorry to hear about Andrew Marr's stroke. All the best to him and his family and here’s to a full and speedy recovery.'
Labour leader Ed Miliband said on Twitter: 'My thoughts are with Andrew and his family. Hope he gets well soon.'
Marr's BBC colleague Andrew Neil tweeted: 'Very distressed to hear news about Andrew Marr. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.'
Also on Twitter, former Conservative MP Louise Mensch said: 'Joining in the chorus of well-wishers for Andrew #Marr. Hope he has a speedy and full recovery.'
Marr and his wife, journalist Jackie Ashley, have been married for 25 years and have a son and two daughters.

Big beasts: Andrew Marr interviewing former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2005 for the BBC current affairs show Sunday AM

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott gets a grilling on Sunday AM from Andrew Marr in 2006

Prime Minister David Cameron and presenter Andrew Marr appearing on the BBC current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show

Marr is an acclaimed journalist, broadcaster and author. He wrote and presented his own History of Modern Britain and The Making of Modern Britain for BBC2, which were hugely popular with viewers and won prestigious awards from the Royal Television Society, the Broadcasting Press Guild and BAFTA.
His more recent offerings include the Diamond Queen documentary and his most recent show, History of the World was broadcast on BBC1 before Christmas. A book accompanies the series, A History of the World.
Born in Glasgow, Marr went to school in Scotland and gained a first-class degree in English from Cambridge University.

Andrew Marr, when he was the BBC's political editor, running along the seafront in Blackpool at the Labour Party Conference in 2002

Former Labour Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott spoke about Marr on Twitter

Conservative Party leader David Cameron is interviewed in his home on The Andrew Marr Show in January, 2009

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, pictured here in December last year, was due to appear on Marr's show in two weeks

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAIN'S BLOOD SUPPLY IS CUT OFF

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.

The brain needs oxygen and nutrients provided by blood to function properly, but if the supply is restricted or stopped, brain cells begin to die.

Speed of treatment is of the essence when dealing with a stroke, because the sooner a person receives help, the less damage is likely to happen.

Smoking, being overweight, lack of exercise and a poor diet are also risk factors for stroke.
Also, conditions that affect the circulation of the blood, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) and diabetes, increase the risk of having a stroke.

NHS Direct says the main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word FAST: Face-Arms-Speech-Time.

Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile or their mouth or eye may have dropped

Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift one or both arms and keep them there because of arm weakness or numbness

Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake

Time – it is time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms

He began his career in journalism on The Scotsman newspaper in 1981, later moving to London to become its political correspondent.
Marr was part of the team which launched The Independent in 1986 and returned as its editor, after a stint at The Economist magazine.
He was then a columnist for The Express and The Observer before making the move into television, as the BBC's Political Editor, in May 2000.
He has also presented a number of history programmes along with his politics show and has had five books published.
In May 2011 it emerged that he had taken out a super-injunction to prevent the reporting of an affair.
He won a High Court order in January 2008 to silence the press following his extra-marital affair with another national newspaper reporter.
He admitted he had taken the step as he said he felt 'uneasy' about it as a journalist.
The woman with whom he had the affair is a political journalist who has a daughter. Since their fling, some nine years ago, her name has appeared widely online.
Mr Marr is considered young to have suffered a stroke, as the vast majority of the 150,000 people who suffer the attack every year in England are over 65.
According to NHS figures, in England, strokes are a major health problem, and are the third largest cause of death, after heart disease and cancer.
The brain damage caused by strokes means that they are the largest cause of adult disability in the UK, but it also possible to make a full recovery.
Joe Korner, director of communications at the Stroke Association said: 'We are deeply saddened to hear about Andrew Marr's stroke and our thoughts are with him and his family at this hard time.
'One hundred and fifty thousand people have a stroke every year in the UK and around a quarter of these are in people of working age.
'A stroke happens in an instant but the effects can often last a lifetime. However with the right care and support it is possible to make a recovery and return to a life after stroke.'

* Former BBC director general Alasdair Milne has died at the age of 82 after a series of strokes. Milne led the Corporation between 1982 and 1987 before he was forced to resign after a series of rows with Margaret Thatcher’s government.

Acting director general Tim Davie yesterday said he was a 'charismatic editorial figure' behind some 'outstanding' programmes. Milne is survived by his daughter and two sons.

 VIDEO  Andrew Marr on politics and history at the BBC

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