George Alagiah says ‘life is a gift’ in touching message recorded earlier than his loss of life
G
eorge Alagiah stated in an emotional ultimate report on BBC News “I have gotten to a place to see life as a gift” aired after his loss of life from bowel most cancers aged 67.
The late newsreader, who had fronted the BBC News At Six for the final 20 years, died on Monday.
At the tip of Monday’s programme, his colleague Sophie Raworth revealed Alagiah had hoped to come back into the BBC studio one final time to thank the viewers however didn’t get the possibility.
In a video montage in his honour which featured clips and footage, Alagiah admitted it had taken him time to course of the prognosis after he was first informed he had bowel most cancers.
“My life, for what it is worth, is divided into pre-cancer and post-cancer. The weird thing about a bowel cancer journey is you don’t really know the beginning and you don’t really know the end,” he stated within the video.
“So I know the day I was diagnosed with bowel cancer, but I don’t know when it started. Because I was at the top of my game, I was having a fantastic time at work and home, and then suddenly you hear those words ‘I’m sorry to tell you Mr Alagiah, you’ve got bowel cancer’.
“At first when you’re told, you don’t know how to respond and it took me a while to understand what I needed to do.”
He continued: “For me, I had to get a place of contentment and the only way I knew how to do that was literally to look back at my life.
“Actually, when I look back to my journey, where it all started, looked at the family I had, the opportunities my family had, the great good fortune to bump into Fran who’s been my wife and lover for all these years. The kids that we brought up, it didn’t feel like a failure.
“I wish I hadn’t had cancer, obviously. But I have cancer and I’m glad of the things I’ve learned about myself and about my community, my friends and my family as a result
“I have gotten to a place to see life as a gift. Rather than kind of worrying about when it’s going to end and how it’s going to end, I’ve got to a place where I can see it for the gift it is. I feel that gift keenly every morning.”
Before airing the video on the BBC’s News At Six, Raworth remembered Alagiah as a “man of great values and indomitable spirit”.
She recalled launching the night news present with him 20 years in January 2003, saying that he felt “enormously proud and privileged” to be presenting the programme.
“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,” she added.
“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. George was a man of great values and indomitable spirit. A big smile of velvety love, a great friend.”
George Alagiah handed away on Monday
/ BBCBBC newsreaders Clive Myrie and Naga Munchetty fought again tears earlier within the day as they delivered the news of his loss of life on air.
Broadcaster Myrie grew to become emotional as he paid tribute to Alagiah through the lunchtime BBC News broadcast, saying: “On a personal note, George touched all of us here in the newsroom with his kindness and generosity, his warmth and good humour.
“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 is something his family can be so proud of. Journalism has lost a giant.”
Munchetty additionally grew to become choked up as she interrupted her reside present on BBC Radio 5 Live round noon to ship the news.
As her voice broke, she stated: “Apologies for the emotion in my voice – he was so loved in our newsroom.”
Alagiah, who was born in Sri Lanka, continued to current for the BBC when he was not receiving therapy.
He joined the company in 1989 and spent a few years as certainly one of its main international correspondents earlier than shifting to presenting.
He was a specialist in Africa and coated the 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.
He was nominated for a Bafta in 1994 for his protection of Saddam Hussein’s genocidal marketing campaign towards the Kurds of northern Iraq and was named Amnesty International’s journalist of the 12 months in 1994 for reporting on the civil battle in Burundi.
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.
Kaplinsky wrote on Instagram: “Goodbye dearest George. I will miss you so very much. It was such a privilege to be your friend.”
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.”
Question Time presenter Fiona Bruce stated Alagiah was “that rare thing – a first-rate journalist and an all round lovely human being.”
She added: “Integrity and decency shone through him. That and a mischievous sense of humour with an endearing giggle.”
Nick Robinson, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, paid tribute saying: “George was a brilliant journalist, a lovely man and an inspiring example to all fighting serious illness. His friends will miss him deeply.”
Broadcaster John Simpson stated: “A gentler, kinder, more insightful and braver friend and colleague it would be hard to find.
“I loved having his company in the BBC World Affairs Unit, and his progress after that was a pleasure to watch.”
Former BBC correspondent Jon Sopel added: “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.”
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer stated he was “deeply saddened” by news of Alagiah’s loss of life.
He stated: “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.”
After his prognosis Alagiah endured two rounds of chemotherapy and a number of other operations, together with the elimination of most of his liver.
He returned to work after his therapy was over however the most cancers got here again and unfold, resulting in breaks from the studio whereas he obtained therapy.
Following his prognosis, Alagiah additionally campaigned for most cancers charities, together with Macmillan Cancer Support and Bowel Cancer UK, to assist increase consciousness.
Before becoming a member of the BBC, Alagiah labored as a print journalist and went on to write down various 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 corresponding to Mixed Britannia, wanting on the UK’s mixed-race inhabitants.
He was made an OBE within the 2008 New Year Honours.
He is survived by his spouse of 40 years, Frances Robathan, their two sons and three grandchildren.