Tributes have poured in for BBC presenter George Alagiah, who died at the age of 67 from colon cancer.
The Sri Lankan-born journalist, who had been the face of BBC One’s News At Six since 2007, died ‘peacefully’ on Monday, surrounded by ‘his family and loved ones,’ according to his agency.
The veteran presenter was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in April 2014, which had progressed to his liver and lymph nodes, and had recently taken a vacation from BBC News when tests revealed that the disease had gone further.
On Monday’s BBC News, Clive Myrie was one of the first presenters to pay homage to Alagiah, crying up as he recalled his friend and former mentor.
‘On a personal note, George affected all of us here in the newsroom with his compassion and generosity, his warmth and good humour,’ he added, sobbing.
‘We loved him here at BBC News and I loved him as a mentor, colleague and friend.
‘His spirit, strength and courage in the later years of his life are something his family can be so proud of. Journalism has lost a giant.’
Meanwhile, Dan Walker, Jeremy Vine, and Fiona Bruce were among the journalists who paid homage to Alagiah on Twitter, with the former calling him “very highly respected and liked both inside and outside the BBC.”
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 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.’
Fiona remembered Alagia as ‘that rare thing -a first-rate journalist and an all-round lovely human being.’
She continued: ‘Integrity and decency shone through him. That and a mischievous sense of humour with an endearing giggle.
‘I remember his 60th birthday party, surrounded by his wonderful family and his glamorous sisters like so many birds of paradise.
‘It was an intimate family affair and I know George counted his blessings to be there with the people he loved so much.
‘He fought with all he had to stay with them as long as he could. We loved him in the newsroom and we – I – miss him so much.’
Remembering Alagiah, Jon Sopel wrote on Twitter: ‘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.’
A number of politicians, including Labour leader Keir Starmer and London mayor Sadiq Khan, also paid their tribute to Alagiah.
Starmer wrote: ‘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.’
Khan added: ‘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.’
Starmer and Khan’s Labour colleague, David Lammy, meanwhile, described his friend Alagiah as ‘the most exceptional journalist.
‘So sad my friend George Alagiah has lost his long battle with Bowel Cancer. The most exceptional journalist, he had a grace, empathy and unparalleled professionalism that will be sorely missed. Mine and my wife Nicola deepest love to Fran and family,’ he added.
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.
So sad my friend George Alagiah has lost his long battle with Bowel Cancer. The most exceptional journalist, he had a grace, empathy and unparalleled professionalism that will be sorely missed. Mine and my wife Nicola deepest love to Fran and family. https://t.co/5w7KJcC27y
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) July 24, 2023
I’m heartbroken. My favourite❤️https://t.co/2RmYnHdgkB
— Beverley Knight💙 (@Beverleyknight) July 24, 2023
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…
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) July 24, 2023
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 ❤️ https://t.co/TbEA4hJ30a— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) July 24, 2023
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 ❤️ https://t.co/TbEA4hJ30a— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) July 24, 2023
Such sad news. An outstanding broadcaster and a very gracious man. My sincere condolences to George’s family, friends and colleagues. https://t.co/wixYU7gGFQ
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) July 24, 2023
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…
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 24, 2023
This breaks my heart. A good man, a rival on the foreign correspondent beat but above all a friend. If good journalism is about empathy, and it often is, George Alagiah had it in spades. He understood injustice and the power of good reporting to highlight it,if not correct it … https://t.co/VFZs3fuDzO
— Mark Austin (@markaustintv) July 24, 2023
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. https://t.co/objQOZ6XND
— Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) July 24, 2023
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. https://t.co/mclcVAkru1
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) July 24, 2023
Such sad news. An outstanding broadcaster and a very gracious man. My sincere condolences to George’s family, friends and colleagues. https://t.co/wixYU7gGFQ
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) July 24, 2023
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.
‘My thoughts are with Fran, the boys and his wider family.’
Alagiah joined the BBC in 1989 and worked as one of the corporation’s top overseas journalists for several years before transitioning to presenting.
He began anchoring the 6 p.m. news bulletin in early 2003, but stepped up to lead it solo four years later after his co-host, Natasha Kaplinsky, left.
He interviewed key political personalities during his career, including former South African President Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and ex-Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe.
Frances Robathan, his wife of 40 years, and their two sons and three grandkids survive him.
