George Alagiah, a legendary BBC newsreader, died at the age of 67 following a nine-year struggle with bowel cancer.
Alagiah, one of the BBC’s longest-serving and most regarded correspondents, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014.
He worked for the BBC for over three decades, presenting BBC News at Six for 20 years and winning honours as a foreign correspondent in the years before that.
Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Ghana and England, he joined the BBC as a foreign affairs correspondent in 1989 and later became an African correspondent.
The BBC newsreader was named Amnesty International’s Journalist of the Year for his coverage of the Burundi civil war, and he also received the Broadcasting Press Guild’s award for television journalist of the Year in 1994.
Later, George hosted the BBC One O’Clock News, the BBC Nine O’Clock News, and the BBC Four News before becoming one of the main presenters of BBC News at Six in 2003. For many years, George also had his own show on BBC World News.
He was awarded the OBE for services to journalism in 2008.
In 2014, George was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer and returned to presenting the following year. When not in treatment, he continued to present for the BBC.
He and his wife of 40 years, Frances Robathan, have two sons and three grandchildren.
Alagiah’s death was confirmed by the BBC, which 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.”
