BBC newsreader George Alagiah dies at 67 after bowel most cancers analysis
An announcement from Mary Greenham to the PA news company stated: “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.”
The Sri Lanka-born journalist, the face of BBC One’s News At Six since 2007, was identified with stage 4 bowel most cancers, which had unfold to his liver and lymph nodes, in April 2014.
He endured two rounds of chemotherapy and several other operations, together with the removing of most of his liver.
In October 2015 he introduced that his remedy was over and returned to BBC News At Six on November 10.
Alagiah joined the BBC in 1989 and spent a few years as one of many company’s main overseas correspondents earlier than shifting to presenting.
He first started internet hosting the 6pm news bulletin in early 2003, however stepped as much as entrance it solo 4 years later following the departure of his co-host, Natasha Kaplinsky.
He was beforehand a outstanding overseas correspondent, typically as a specialist in Africa with protection of civil wars in Somalia and Liberia in addition to the genocide in Rwanda 20 years in the past.
Throughout his profession he interviewed central political figures, amongst them former South African president Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and ex-Zimbabwean chief Robert Mugabe.
Before becoming a member of the BBC, Alagiah workied as a print journalist and went on to put in writing quite a lot of books together with A Home From Home, which checked out what it means to be British.
Throughout his illustrious profession, he additionally introduced different exhibits similar to Mixed Britannia, trying on the UK’s mixed-race inhabitants.
He was made an OBE within the 2008 New Year Honours.
His most cancers returned in December 2017 and he underwent additional remedy earlier than once more returning to work.
He took one other break from studio duties in October 2021 to take care of an additional unfold of most cancers, earlier than returning in April 2022.
Appearing in a marketing campaign in assist of Macmillan Cancer Support in 2022, talking in regards to the influence of his personal expertise of dwelling with stage 4 bowel most cancers, Alagiah stated: “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 final 12 months, Alagiah introduced he was taking a break from presenting the BBC’s News At Six following one other scan.
He stated: “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.”
Alagiah spoke overtly in regards to the expertise of dwelling with most cancers, becoming a member of a videocast for the charity Bowel Cancer UK in 2020 wherein he stated he generally felt he had the “easy part”, dwelling with bowel most cancers whereas his family members needed to watch.
He stated: “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 was extra than simply an impressive journalist, audiences may sense his kindness, empathy and fantastic humanity
He is survived by his spouse, Frances Robathan, and two youngsters.
An announcement from BBC director-general Tim Davie stated: “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.”