George Alagiah: Clive Myrie and colleagues pay tribute as BBC broadcast journalist dies at 67

Tributes are pouring in for BBC journalist George Alagiah, following the information of his dying on Monday (24 July).

Alagiah was 67 years outdated. He had been identified with bowel most cancers, which had unfold to his liver and lymph nodes, in April 2014.

In an announcement issued to the PA information company, his agent Mary Greenham stated: “I’m so terribly sorry to tell you that George Alagiah died peacefully at this time, surrounded by his household and family members.

“George fought till the bitter finish however sadly that battle ended earlier at this time.”

Greenham continued: “George was deeply beloved by everyone who knew him, whether or not it was a pal, a colleague or a member of the general public. He merely was a beautiful human being. My ideas are with Fran, the boys and his wider household.”

Colleagues, associates and BBC viewers have been sharing tributes to the previous face of BBC Information at Six with posts on social media, as properly as on dwell TV. Clive Myrie knowledgeable viewers of Alagiah’s dying throughout a day BBC Information broadcast, ending the story with some heartfelt phrases.

“On a private word, George touched all of us right here within the newsroom along with his kindness and generosity, his heat and good humour,” Myrie stated.

“We beloved him right here at BBC Information and I beloved him as a mentor, colleague and pal. His spirit, energy and braveness within the later years of his life is one thing his household will be so happy with. Journalism has misplaced a large.”

On social media, others have remembered the Sri Lanka-born newsreader for uplifting different journalists of color to pursue a profession in media.

LBC presenter Sangita Myska wrote: “Rising up, when the BBC’s George Alagiah was on TV my dad would shout ‘George is on!’ We’d run to observe the person who impressed a era of British Asian journalists. That scene was replicated throughout the UK. We thanks, George. RIP xx”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan remembered Alagiah as “an excellent journalist and broadcaster with unparalleled perception and sensitivity”, including: “His a long time of reporting helped break down boundaries. My ideas are along with his family members.”

Different recognitions of Alagiah’s life and profession remembered his kindness and pleasant persona.

Jeremy Vine wrote: “I by no means met anybody who didn’t love George Alagiah. He was compassionate, completely switched on, and actually humorous. He was among the finest TV reporters there’s ever been, however he had no ego.”

He recalled their time working collectively in Johannesburg and took word of “the profound care and understanding he introduced to each single story and the kindness he confirmed each single one who crossed his path”.

Jon Sopel, co-host of The Information Brokers podcast with Emily Maitlis, additionally paid tribute, tweeting: “Tributes will rightly be paid to a implausible journalist and good broadcaster – however George was essentially the most respectable, principled, kindest, most honourable man I’ve ever labored with. What a loss.”

Alagiah’s spouse, Frances Robathan, and their two kids survive him.

Earlier this 12 months, Alagiah took half in an NHS marketing campaign to encourage the broader public to take up its bowel most cancers screening programme and spoke out in regards to the symptom he wished he’d caught earlier.