NEWSREADER Moira Stuart previously revealed that she has been forced to quit booze after developing “problems with alcohol”.

       The BBC veteran - who starred in the Strictly Christmas special tonight - described her struggle with drinking as “rougher than tough” back in 2017.

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       Moira toasts Chris Evans' first day as BBC radio 2 breakfast show host in 2010 Credit: BBC

       Stuart, 67, told listeners of Chris Evans' breakfast show on Radio 2 yesterday that she used to drink heavily - but was forced to give up after developing health problems.

       Evans was quizzing Stuart about dry January, where drinkers give up booth for a month, and asked if she had ever drunk.

       She replied: “Oh I did. Oh Yes. I used to when I was a child, yes notorious at weddings, going round and drinking everybody's.”

       Evans replied: “Minesweeping is what it's called. You were an early minesweeper. And that put you off for life?”

       Stuart said: “Um no. I developed problems with alcohol so I just left it alone. They weren't hangovers, migraines - alcohol doesn't do it for me, along with cheese and chocolate.

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       “I'm telling you it's been rougher than tough.”

       In 1981 Stuart became the UK’s first female African-Caribbean newsreader.

       Last year it emerged that Today show presenter John Humphrys once told her she was “sensationally sexy”.

       He is believed to have said: “You're the most sensationally sexy lady I know. The best thing we can do for the next few hours is to make mad, passionate love in the basement.”

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       Newsreader Moira Stewart has revealed that she has been forced to quit booze Credit: Getty Images

       Stuart then made it clear that the programme had been recorded for the deaf community, so the audience would have been able to lip-read every word he had said.

       She quit the BBC after 26 years in 2007, when the BBC unceremoniously announced her departure.

       The statement prompted accusations that the Corporation did not want older women on screen and led to a series of complaints from MPs that she be immediately reinstated.

       Stuart eventually returned to the BBC in 2010, when she became the main newsreader on Radio 2's breakfast show.

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