BBC News presenter George Alagiah dies

BBC News’ George Alagiah has died at the age of 67.

Alagiah passed away today (Monday, 24 July) after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014.

He joined the corporation in 1989 and quickly rose to the top of the presenting rota for the main News at Six and News at Ten programmes. He also hosted GMT on BBC World News.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie said:

“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.”

Born in Sri Lanka before moving to Ghana and then England in childhood, he joined the BBC as a foreign affairs correspondent in 1989 and then became Africa correspondent.

George Alagiah presenting GMT for BBC World News

George Alagiah in Sydney, Australia

He won accolades for his coverage of the Somalian famine of the early 1990s, and was nominated for a Bafta for his coverage of Saddam Hussein’s genocide against the Kurds in northern Iraq in 1994.

Having presented the BBC One O’Clock News, the BBC Nine O’Clock News, and the BBC Four News, he was made one of the main presenters of the BBC News at Six in 2003.

He was appointed an OBE for services to journalism in 2008.

Alagiah was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2014 but kept up his on-air commitments in between bouts of treatment.

He is survived by his wife, Frances, their two sons and three grandchildren.