George Alagiah makes emotional final BBC News appearance in pre-recorded clip
George Alagiah's last appearance on BBC News was in October last year before he announced he was taking time off because his cancer had spread but he had pre-recorded a clip for the network.
The long-serving newsreader, who died today, aged 67, was the face of BBC News at Six since 2007.
George was diagnosed with bowel cancer nine years ago and underwent 17 rounds of chemotherapy and five operations to treat the disease in 2014, which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes.
The father-of-two came back to work in April last year following his treatment and credited his job with "keeping energised and motivated".
However, just six months later in October, George announced he needed to take a step back, saying "It's back to the tough stuff" after a scan showed his cancer had spread.
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Just hours after his death was announced, his friend and colleague Sophie Raworth explained that she had seen George just a number of weeks ago and he had hoped to say a final farewell to viewers, live from the studio. "He didn’t get the chance. So we have done it for him," she said before adding: "I'll leave you now with George Alagiah in his own words."
George Alagiah took a break from his BBC presenting duties in October last year (BBC)A voiceover of George could be heard over a video clip of himself as he addressed his life and journey with cancer before the screen faded as he appeared again. George said: "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.
"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. 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.
George made an emotional final appearance on BBC News at Six (BBC)"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."
In January, the Sri-Lankan born star said he thought the cancer would "probably get me in the end", but insisted he still felt "very lucky".
Speaking on the podcast Desperately Seeking Wisdom, George admitted he struggled after his initial diagnosis because he wasn't sure what he "needed to do".
"I had to stop and say, 'Hang on a minute. If the full stop came now, would my life have been a failure?'", he shared.
"And actually, when I look back and I looked at my journey... the family I had, the opportunities my family had, the great good fortune to bump into (Frances Robathan), who's now been my wife and lover for all these years, the kids that we brought up... it didn't feel like a failure."
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George has died aged 67, nine years after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer (BBC)George was one of the most respected newsreaders at the BBC and mentored a number of its current presenters, including Clive Myrie.
Clive was overcome with emotion on BBC News today as he paid tribute to his "friend and mentor".
Fighting back tears, he said: "On a personal note, George touched all our lives with 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 he showed in the later years of his life are something his family can be so proud of. Journalism has lost a giant."
Meanwhile, George's former BBC colleague, Dan Walker, who now presents Channel 5 News, said: "How sad to hear about the death of George Alagiah. Incredibly well respected and loved both inside and outside the BBC. I hope his family know he inspired a lot of people with his courage."
Also paying tribute to the talented presenter was Sky News journalist Mark Austin, who tweeted: "This breaks my heart. A good man, a rival on the foreign correspondent beat but above all a friend. If good journalism is about empathy, and it often is, George Alagiah had it in spades. He understood injustice and the power of good reporting to highlight it, if not correct it."
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