Barbara Walters pulls out of ABC inauguration coverage following fall

American television veteran Barbara Walters has pulled out of ABC News coverage following her fall on Saturday.

The ABC journalist fell on Saturday evening on a step at the home of the British Ambassador in Washington during a party. The 83-year-old was taken to hospital but is said to be doing well. It is not known if she has yet been discharged.

Walters also co-hosts The View, a daytime female talk show which she created in 1997. It went on to influence the style ITVs more lowbrow equivalent Loose Women.

ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider said that Walters was taken to hospital “out of an abundance of caution.”

Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos will lead ABC News coverage on Monday for the public inauguration of President Barack Obama, who took the oath in a private ceremony on Sunday as the US constitution says it must take place on 20 January. It will today be re-done in front of huge public crowd in Washington.