BBC star Sophie Raworth has revealed her late friend and co-star George Alagiah’s final wishes before his tragic death aged 67.
The broadcaster’s agent confirmed the heartbreaking news on Monday (July 24) after he lost his battle with stage four bowel cancer.
Following his death, on Monday evening George’s colleague Sophie dedicated much of the News At Six show to cover his passing.
READ MORE: George Alagiah ‘accepted death’ in final moments after ‘living life beyond expectation’
And at the end of the programme, she opened up about the last time she saw George and what he told her – during an emotional tribute on-air.
(Image: BBC/Jeff Overs)
Sophie said: “I saw him just a few weeks ago. He told me he had hoped to come back to work one last time to say thank you and goodbye, right here, live on air in the studio.
“He didn’t get the chance, so we have done it for him. I will leave you now with George Alagiah in his own words.”
The broadcaster then appeared to pinch her hands while reading the autocue, perhaps in a bid to stop the emotions from taking over live on-air.
(Image: BBC)
Sophie also recalled: “20 years ago George and I launched the new Six O’ Clock News together back in January 2003. He was a foreign correspondent at heart, that was his passion, but he felt enormously proud and privileged to be presenting the BBC’s evening news and he loved it.”
She continued: “He loved being in the newsroom being part of the team, and he made a good cup of tea as well. We all adored him, he felt a real connection with the audience too.
“After he was diagnosed with cancer just over nine years ago, he received thousands of letters and messages from people who wrote to him as if they knew each other, strangers who spoke to him as a friend. He was really touched by your support.
(Image: BBC News & Current Affairs via Getty Images)
“George was a man of great values and indomitable spirit, a big smile, a velvety laugh, a great friend.”
The programme then finished with a film made by George were he discussed his bowel cancer battle.
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.
(Image: Getty Images)
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Alagiah endured two rounds of chemotherapy and several operations which included removing most of his liver to battle the terminal illness.
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.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
