Legendary BBC newsreader George Alagiah has died at the age of 67 “surrounded by loved ones” after a long battle with cancer.
Following the sad news, tributes flooded in for the family man, who was described as a “wonderful human being” and “one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation”.
His agent Mary Greenham confirmed he had died nine years after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
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Her statement read: “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.
(Image: BBC)
“My thoughts are with Fran, the boys and his wider family,” it concluded.
The BBC added: “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.
(Image: Getty Images)
“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 Sri Lanka-born journalist – who became the face of BBC One’s News At Six back in 2007 – was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer back in April 2014.
Alagiah endured two rounds of chemotherapy and several operations which included removing most of his liver to battle to terminal illness.
(Image: BBC)
But in October 2015, he announced that his treatment was over and returned to BBC News At Six on November 10.
The broadcaster first joined the BBC in 1989 and spent several years as one of the corporation’s leading foreign correspondents before he transitioned over to presenting.
He first began hosting the 6pm news bulletin back in 2003 before he took on a permanent role four years later following the departure of his co-host Natasha Kaplinsky.
(Image: Getty Images)
Before he became one of the most recognisable faces of the BBC, he was a prominent foreign correspondent as a specialist in Africa.
He regularly covered the civil wars in Somalia and Liberia as well as the genocide in Rwanda 20 years ago.
Throughout his career he has interviewed many central political figures, including South African president Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and ex-Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe.
(Image: BBC)
Before he joined the BBC, Alagiah worked as a print journalist and went on to write several books including A Home From Home which explores what it means to be British.
Throughout his illustrious career, he has also presented other shows such as Mixed Britannia, that looking into the UK’s mixed-race population.
He was later made an OBE in the 2008 New Year Honours list.
(Image: PA)
The star was able to fight the condition when he was first diagnosed but unfortunately, his cancer returned in December 2017 and the star underwent further treatment before he returned to work.
George took another break from studio duties in October 2021 to deal with a further spread of cancer before he returned to the programme in April 2022.
He went on to appear in a campaign in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support later that year where he spoke about the impact of his own experience of living with stage four bowel cancer.
(Image: Getty)
The newsreader said: “People always ask me how I cope and it’s the hardest question…
“The challenge at first was getting my cancer diagnosis straight in my head – despite having so much going for me, a successful career and a loving family, here I was just being told I was dying.”
In October last year, Alagiah announced he was taking a break from presenting the BBC’s News At Six following another scan.
(Image: BBC)
He said: “A recent scan showed that my cancer has spread further so it’s back to some tough stuff. I’m missing my colleagues. Working in the newsroom has been such an important part of keeping energised and motivated.”
But that didn’t stop him from advocating for Bowel Cancer UK in 2020 after he joined a videocast for the charity.
During the talk he confessed how he sometimes felt he had the “easy part” living with bowel cancer while his loved ones had to watch.
(Image: PA)
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He said: “Those of us living with cancer know that it affects our families almost as much as ourselves.
“In some ways I’ve felt through my six-plus years living with cancer that sometimes I have the easy part… My job is just to stay fit and my family has got to watch all of the other things.”
He is survived by his wife, Frances Robathan, and two children.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
