BBC boss pays tribute to George Alagiah as presenter dies after cancer battle
BBC Director-General Tim Davie called 'flawless' George Alagiah;one of the best and bravest reporters in Britain' in a tribute following his death.
The 67-year-old – one of the corporation's longest-serving and most respected journalists – has died following a nine-year cancer battle.
A statement from his agent Mary Greenham said the newsreader "died peacefully today, surrounded by his family and loved ones".
A fixture on TV news for more than three decades, George presented the BBC News at Six for the past 20 years. BBC director-general Davie said he was loved by millions, who will all miss seeing him every day as he paid tribute to George.
The death of much-respected journalist has been announced (PA)He said: "Across the BBC, we are all incredibly sad to hear the news about George. We are thinking of his family at this time.
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"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 Sri Lanka-born star was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes, in April 2014.
BBC director-general Tim Davie called him 'flawless and fearless' (PA)He endured two rounds of chemotherapy and several operations, including the removal of most of his liver. In October 2015 he announced that his treatment was over and returned to BBC News At Six on November 10.
George is survived by his wife, Frances Robathan, and two children.
The BBC presenter spoke openly about the experience of living with cancer, joining a videocast for the charity Bowel Cancer UK in 2020 in which he said he sometimes felt he had the "easy part", living with bowel cancer while his loved ones had to watch.
He said: "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."
In a statement today, announcing his death his agent said: "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.
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"My thoughts are with Fran, the boys and his wider family."
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