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Dan Walker and Jeremy Vine lead tributes to George Alagiah after the BBC newsreader dies aged 67 from bowel cancer-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
‘Incredibly well respected and loved both inside and outside the BBC,’ Dan said.
George Alagiah had been diagnosed with stage four cancer in 2014 (Picture: PA)
Tributes have flooded in for BBC newsreader George Alagiah following his death aged 67 from bowel cancer.
The Sri Lanka-born journalist, the face of BBC One’s News At Six since 2007 died on Monday ‘peacefully’ and surrounded by ‘his family and loved ones’, his agent confirmed to PA.
The veteran broadcaster had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes, in April 2014 and had recently taken a break from BBC News after scans showed the disease had spread further.
Jon Sopel was among the media figures paying tribute to Alagiah on Twitter, describing him as ‘a fantastic journalist and brilliant broadcaster.’
He wrote: ‘Tributes will rightly be paid to a fantastic journalist and brilliant broadcaster – but George was the most decent, principled, kindest, most honourable man I have ever worked with. What a loss.’
Dan Walker said Alagiah was ‘incredibly well respected and loved both inside and outside the BBC’ in his heartfelt tribute.
Alagiah joined the BBC more than 30 years ago in 1989(Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
He continued: ‘How sad to hear about the death of George Alagiah. Incredibly well respected and loved both inside and outside the BBC. I hope his family know he inspired a lot of people with his courage.’
In a lengthy tribute, Jeremy Vine said: ‘I never met anyone who didn’t love George Alagiah. He was compassionate, totally switched on, and really funny. He was one of the best TV reporters there’s ever been, but he had no ego.
‘I was lucky enough to work with him in the Johannesburg bureau 25 years ago and I saw the profound care and understanding he brought to every single story and the kindness he showed every single person who crossed his path. Above all he loved his family and I’m thinking of them today in their grief.’
Alagiah has been raising awareness of bowel cancer(Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
Labour lead Keir Starmer penned a heartfelt tribute to Alagiah, writing: ‘Deeply saddened by the news of George Alagiah’s passing. A much-loved face of BBC News for decades, George will also be remembered for his brilliant, fearless journalism as foreign correspondent.
‘He rightly won awards for his evocative, boundary pushing reporting. British journalism has lost a talent. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.’
Paying tribute, London mayor Sadiq Khan said: ‘Deeply saddened to hear that George Alagiah has passed away. He was an outstanding journalist and broadcaster with unparalleled insight and sensitivity – and his decades of reporting helped break down barriers. My thoughts are with his loved ones.’
The BBC described Alagiah as the ‘one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation’ (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
Singer Beverley Knight said simply she was ‘heartbroken’, adding: ‘I’m heartbroken. My favourite [heart emoji].’
Sky News’ Beth Rigby paid her condolences to an ‘outstanding broadcaster and a very gracious man.’
She tweeted: ‘Such sad news. An outstanding broadcaster and a very gracious man. My sincere condolences to George’s family, friends and colleagues.’
ITV’s UK editor Paul Brand shared: ‘Really sad news after a long battle. Thoughts with George’s family, friends and colleagues.’
TalkTV’s political editor Kate McCann described Alagiah as possessing a ‘special talent very few people have.’
‘This is such sad news. I never met George Alagiah but somehow I felt like I knew him – I suspect a lot of people who watched him on the news did – which is a special talent very few people have,’ she added.
A statement from BBC director-general Tim Davie said: ‘Across the BBC, we are all incredibly sad to hear the news about George. We are thinking of his family at this time.
‘George was one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation who reported fearlessly from across the world as well as presenting the news flawlessly.
‘He was more than just an outstanding journalist, audiences could sense his kindness, empathy and wonderful humanity. He was loved by all and we will miss him enormously.’
The statement from his agent Mary Greenham said: ‘I am so terribly sorry to inform you that George Alagiah died peacefully today, surrounded by his family and loved ones.
‘George fought until the bitter end but sadly that battle ended earlier today.
‘George was deeply loved by everybody who knew him, whether it was a friend, a colleague or a member of the public. He simply was a wonderful human being.
Alagiah is survived by his wife and sons (Picture: Getty Images)
‘My thoughts are with Fran, the boys and his wider family.’
Alagiah joined the BBC in 1989 and spent many years as one of the corporation’s leading foreign correspondents before moving to presenting.
He first began hosting the 6pm news bulletin in early 2003, but stepped up to front it solo four years later following the departure of his co-host, Natasha Kaplinsky.
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Throughout his career he interviewed central political figures, among them former South African president Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and ex-Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe.
He is survived by his wife, Frances Robathan, and two children.
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