Vic Reeves, 67, rushed to hospital by paramedics after 'overexerting himself' and collapsing during friend's wedding

Comedian Vic Reeves has collapsed at a friend's wedding after 'overexerting himself'.

The Big Night Out star, real name Jim Moir, was taken to hospital after the fall during a party at the upmarket Hotel du Vin in Poole, Dorset.

A source at the hotel described how the mood shifted from laughter to 'serious concern' when the 67-year-old collapsed.

They said: 'Vic was telling jokes and entertaining people – and obviously everyone was hitting the bar as the party went on just as you'd expect.

'But suddenly it appeared to take a bit of a turn for the worse – there was a commotion in the middle of the group and staff were being asked to call for an ambulance which turned out to be for Vic who wasn't looking at all well. It all happened very quickly and looks like he overexerted himself.

'The next thing he was being wheeled out by paramedics. It all seemed to shift from lots of laughter to serious concern pretty fast.'

Reeves was visiting Poole with his wife, Nancy Sorrell, 52, and the couple took a boat trip around the harbour during their stay.

The pair, who married in 2003, share a passion for birdwatching and were pictured on the water with binoculars around their necks.

Reeves has previously spoken about his drinking during the height of his fame alongside comedy partner Bob Mortimer, 67.

Asked in 2020 how 'rock'n'roll' the pair had been during the 1990s, he said there had been drink and drugs, adding: 'Lager, that was our main vice. Lager and fags, very working class.'

His drinking has also made headlines in the past.

The Sunday People previously reported that Caroline Steffens, described as Ms Sorrell's oldest friend, had claimed Reeves could get through 'six bottles of wine a night' while on a bender.

Ms Steffens alleged: 'She [Nancy] has to take him home early from parties and apologise for his behaviour. He's a bad drunk and can't hold his alcohol. He'll pass out.'

In 2005, Reeves was banned from driving for 32 months and ordered to complete 100 hours of community punishment after admitting drink-driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

A court heard he was more than three times the legal alcohol limit when his vintage Jaguar struck a parked car near his home in Kent.

Reeves has since largely left his famous comic persona behind to pursue a career as an artist under his birth name.

Reeves's representative told the Mail: 'He was checked over and given a clean bill of health.'