ALASTAIR Stewart was today forced out of ITV after 40 years as a news presenter when a black Twitter user accused him of calling him an ape.

The veteran broadcaster, 67, announced he would be quitting after "errors of judgement" in his use of social media.

Alastair Stewart announced he was stepping down today Credit: Instagram

4 Martin Shapland was involved in a Twitter race row with the ITV News anchor Credit: Twitter

Martin Shapland accused the newsreader of being racist, tagging ITV in his tweet

Mr Stewart, who was Britain's longest serving newsreader, left the job three weeks after he was accused of calling Martin Shapland an ape on Twitter.

Tonight, ITV colleagues and fellow presenters leapt to his defence, with an insider insisting 'he is certainly not a racist'.

In an online debate about the financial relationship between the Crown and the taxpayer, the presenter replied with an obscure quote from Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.

RACE ROW

In the string of tweets Mr Stewart wrote: “But man, proud man, Dress'd in a little brief authority Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd - His glassy essence—like an angry ape Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven

"As makes the angels weep; who, with our spleens, Would all themselves laugh mortal.”

Mr Stewart has used the same Shakespeare quote in at least one other exchange with a Twitter user who wasn't identifiably black.

Mr Shapland, a policy manager at the Institution of Civil Engineers, shared the tweet, calling the presenter a "disgrace" for using the quote, which he claimed used a racial slur against him.

He later tweeted: "Just an ITV newsreader referring to me as an ape with the cover of Shakespeare.

Alastair Stewart said he had stepped down after an 'error of judgment'

4 Stewart uses the Shakespeare quote during a Twitter debate Credit: Twitter

"Measure for measure, Alistair is a disgrace."

ITV have not officially released the reason but several ITV News sources told The Sun Online the departure was linked to the ape tweet.

In a statement, the award-winning presenter said: "It was a misjudgement which I regret, but it's been a privilege to bring the news to households throughout the UK for the past 40 years."

His Twitter account has since been deleted.

In another online spat in 2018, Mr Stewart used the quote when a Twitter user criticised the ITV anchor, telling him as a journalist he should know the importance of checking facts.

An ITV spokesman said tonight: "The decision, which is supported by both ITV and ITN, follows errors of judgement in Mr Stewart's use of social media which breached ITN’s editorial guidelines."

Colleagues and fellow news presenters tonight backed Mr Stewart over the race row.

So sad to learn this - we have worked on many big stories together & Al is a trusted friend and guide to many of us https://t.co/05kv3nYd5X — Julie Etchingham (@julieetchitv) January 29, 2020

First person to chair a proper Leaders Debate in 2010. A great TV journalist, professional model and friend. Alastair Stewart. So sad. https://t.co/10QpEvorNv — Adam Boulton (@adamboultonSKY) January 29, 2020

Alastair Stewart has been a loyal friend, colleague, mentor, guide and much more to many, many journalists.

I’ve marvelled at his ability to remain calm on air as he heard chaos in his ear in the @itvnews #ITN gallery.

Simply the best on and off screen.

A broadcasting legend. pic.twitter.com/rlNB3wTq1w — Richard Frediani (@BBCFrediani) January 29, 2020

An ITN insider told The Daily Mail: "He would have thought he was being clever and it was merely an innocent put-down.

"He is certainly not a racist in any way. Alastair is a hugely popular figure, well liked, kind and something of an institution. It is sad if he has had to go."

ITV Evening News presenter Mary Nightingale said: "Very sad about the departure of #AlastairStewart. "He was a good friend and mentor to me when I started at Carlton TV, and we worked together for more than 27 years. I will miss him."

ITV News at Ten presenter Julie Etchingham wrote: "So sad to learn this - we have worked on many big stories together & Al is a trusted friend and guide to many of us."

4 Mr Shapland branded Mr Stewart a 'disgrace' for tweeting the Shakespeare quote Credit: Facebook

Sky News presenter Adam Boulton said: "First person to chair a proper leaders debate in 2010.

"A great TV journalist, professional model and friend. Alastair Stewart. So sad."

BBC Executive Editor Richard Frediani hailed Mr Stewart as a "broadcasting legend".

Mr Frediani said: "Alastair Stewart has been a loyal friend, colleague, mentor, guide and much more to many, many journalists.

"I’ve marvelled at his ability to remain calm on air as he heard chaos in his ear in the ITV news gallery.

"Simply the best on and off screen."

VETERAN BROADCASTER

A source told The Sun that ITV bosses had been scaling back his role and may have 'felt the time was right'.

Mr Stewart has enjoyed a glittering career as one of TV's most respected news presenters, joining Southern Television in 1976 then ITN in 1980.

He was one of the last journalists to interview Lord Mountbatten before he was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.

The veteran broadcaster was the ITN’s News at Ten anchor from 1989, leading the channel’s coverage of the fall the of the Berlin Wall.

Mr Stewart moved to work in the US as ITN’s Washington correspondent, before heading to Saudi Arabia for two months to cover the Gulf War in 1990.

He was the first British television journalist to broadcast live from Kuwait City.

In 2003, he was axed as presenter of ITV's Police Camera Action after being caught drink driving.

Simply the best on and off screen. A broadcasting legend BBC Executive Editor Richard Frediani

He was banned from driving for 23 months and fined £3,000 after crashing his Mercedes into a hedge and telegraph pole.

Mr Stewart went on to present a weekday show called Live With Alastair Stewart.

In 2005, he won presenter of the year from the Royal Television Society and in 2006 he was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting and charity.

He was also co-anchor in ITV's coverage of the 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2005 general elections.

In 2010, he hosted the first Prime Minister candidates debate between Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Gordon Brown and presented ITV News's EU referendum coverage in June, 2016.

ITN chief executive Anna Mallett said: "We would like to recognise Alastair's contribution as one of the UK's foremost journalists and TV presenters and to thank him for his commitment to delivering high-quality broadcast news over many years."

Michael Jermey, director of news and current affairs at ITV, said: "Alastair has been a long-standing, familiar figure to viewers of ITV News, both reporting and presenting with distinction. We wish him the very best for the future."

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The son of RAF recruits, Mr Stewart was educated at state school in Fife, Scotland and then at the independent Salesian College in Farnborough, Hampshire and St. Augustine's Abbey School in Ramsgate, Kent.

Alastair then entered TV when he joined Southern Television in Southampton as a reporter and presenter.

He married Sally Ann Jung in 1978 and has four children. 4 Alastair Stewart married Sallly Anne Jung in 1978, and the couple have four children Credit: Rex Features His Twitter has been deleted Mary Nightingale said she would miss her fellow presenter Ian Fraser also said he was sad to see the presenter go

The presenter poses with his OBE Credit: PA:Press Association