Nick Robinson reveals special bond with late friend George Alagiah after his own cancer diagnosis: ‘We were part of the same club’-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Nick Robinson has paid tribute to George Alagiah following the sad news of the broadcaster’s death.

Speaking on The One Show, Robinson, 59, reflected on his friendship with the award-winning journalist, who died earlier today aged 67 following a bowel cancer diagnosis in 2014.

When asked by host Alex Jones what the atmosphere was like in the BBC newsroom now, Robinson said there was a ‘cloud of sadness’ in the air.

‘You feel it when you come in the building,’ he began. ‘It’s like there’s a cloud of sadness now.’

He continued to say that, no matter whether people knew Alagiah personally or not, ‘everyone thought he was their friend’.

‘I got to know him later in life when we became members of the club nobody wants to be part of, we both had cancer at the same time, but everybody felt that sense of friendship.

‘I was trying to think why because lots of people read out what’s on that screen, but what people can’t all do is look and be and feel like a human being when they’re telling other people’s stories. And George just did it, that’s why we’ll miss him.’

Speaking of his own experiences with cancer, Robinson said he created a special ‘bond’ with Alagiah.

‘There was a bond and there was also the ability to talk because you can understand what each other’s going through,’ he shared.

‘And I’m smiling now! Because, actually, we went through some good times together.’

Robinson proceeded to say that Alagiah wanted to ‘use his illness for good’.

‘He wanted to say, “Look, if I had caught my cancer earlier, maybe I’d have a better chance of survival.”

‘In many ways, it was a miracle he survived as long as he did.’

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