CNN presenter Quest goes into rehab

CNN's UK-born presenter Richard Quest has embarked on a course of drug rehabilitation following his arrest last Friday in New York.

The US news broadcaster today issued a statement confirming that Quest, a familiar face on the network, had entered a "drug rehabilitation facility" on the orders of a judge following his arrest. "At this time, CNN's primary concern is for his health and wellbeing. We look forward to Richard returning to CNN International," the broadcaster said in a statement.

A CNN spokesman declined to "speculate" on when Quest would return to the network he joined in 2001. He began his career as a BBC news trainee in 1985 and spent 16 years at the corporation.

Quest was arrested in Central Park last Friday, April 18, at 3.42am local time for what a New York Police Department spokesman described as "criminal possession of a controlled substance, believed to be methamphetamine and for being in Central Park after closing time". During a court arraignment early on Saturday, he agreed to undergo drug counselling and therapy for the next six months in order to avoid a prison sentence.

At CNN Quest has made his name as a business reporter and presenter. He also hosts the monthly specials CNN World Business Traveller and fronted the Quest series of shows on diverse subjects. Past programmes have included Quest For Spirituality, Quest For Culinary Success and Quest For Rock 'N' Roll, in which rock star Alice Cooper put the reporter in a headlock.

Quest is regarded as a popular figure at CNN where he reports with a distinctively enthusiastic style and gruff voice. Writing in the Mail on Sunday last year Michael Holden described Quest as "a kind of manic nerd with a head for figures and a voice like Yoda struggling to impersonate Barry White".

As a business travel specialist, Quest has become a voice of authority on subjects such as the launch of the Airbus A380. He also travelled across the US to gauge public feeling in the build-up to the 2004 presidential election and anchored CNN's coverage of the funeral of Pope John Paul II, live from Rome.