- George Alagiah passed away ‘quietly’ surrounded by his family the other day early morning
BBC audiences were last night gave tears as Sophie Raworth revealed George Alagiah’s last dream was to come back on air and quote goodbye to his faithful audience – however he never ever had the opportunity to do so.
Instead, a psychological pre-recorded message from the broadcaster, who passed away ‘quietly’ surrounded by his family the other day aged 67, was played to BBC audiences where the much-loved speaker said he had ‘got to a location to see life as a present’.
It came minutes after his co-presenter of the News at Six paid homage, stating: ‘I saw him simply a couple of weeks earlier. He informed me he had actually wished to return to work one last time to state thank you and bye-bye, right here, survive on air in the studio.
‘He didn’t get the opportunity, so we have actually done it for him. I will leave you now with in his own words.’
Raworth choked back tears, appearing to pinch her hand as she checked out off the autocue in what appeared to be an effort not to end up being psychological as a video montage of Alagiah started to play.
A pre-recorded clip revealed Alagiah discussing his life ‘pre-cancer and post-cancer’, remembering how he was ‘at the top of his video game at work and at home’ when he received his medical diagnosis.
The acclaimed reporter included: ‘I have actually got to a location where I see life as a present and instead of fretting about when it’s going to end and how it’s going to end, I’ve gotten to a location where I see it for the present it is. I feel that present acutely every early morning.’
Earlier on the program Raworth had actually remembered introducing the Six O’Clock News with Alagiah back in 2003, prior to assessing his long profession and his fight with bowel cancer, which he was very first identified with in 2014.
Raworth said: ’20 years earlier George and I released the brand-new Six O’ Clock News together back in January 2003. He was a foreign reporter at heart, that was his enthusiasm, however he felt immensely happy and fortunate to be providing the BBC’s night news and he enjoyed it.’
‘He enjoyed remaining in the newsroom becoming part of the group, and he made a good cup of tea also. We all adored him, he felt a real connection with the audience too,’ she added.
‘After he was diagnosed with cancer just over nine years ago, he received thousands of letters and messages from people who wrote to him as it they knew each other, strangers who spoke to him as a friend. He was really touched by your support.
‘George was a man of great values and indomitable spirit, a big smile, a velvety laugh, a great friend.’
Alagiah, who died following an illness with bowel cancer, is survived by his wife of 40 years, Frances Robathan and his two children – Adam and Matt.
In the pre-recorded clip shown last night he said: ‘My life is divided into pre-cancer and post-cancer. The weird thing about a bowel cancer journey is that you don’t know the beginning and you don’t know the end.
‘I know I was diagnosed with bowel cancer but I don’t know when it started because I was at the top of my game, at work at home.
‘Then suddenly you hear those words “I am sorry to have to tell you Mr Alagiah, you have bowel cancer”.
He added: ‘At first when you are told you don’t know how to respond and it took me a while to understand what I needed to do and I needed to get to a place of contentment.
‘The only way I knew how to do that was to look back at my life and the only way I could do that was look back at my journey, how it all started, look at my family and the opportunities my family had.
‘My great fortune to bump into Fran, my wife and lover for 40 years. I wish I hadn’t had cancer obviously but I have cancer and I am glad about the things I’ve learnt about myself and my community and my family as a result.’
Following his Stage Four cancer diagnosis in 2014, he finished treatment in October 2015 before returning to BBC screens a month later.
In 2020, his health hit the headlines again when he tested positive for Covid. He returned to his presenting duties in April 2022 before departing again in October after revealing the cancer had spread to his lungs and lymph nodes.
Speaking in one his final interview with the Sunday Telegraph, the veteran broadcaster said he hoped to hold his wife’s hand until the very end, and spoke of his fear of her having to set the table and eat alone after his death.
Colleagues from the corporation have been overcome by emotion since the announcement of the presenter’s death just after midday yesterday.
Naga Munchetty, 47, found out about the news of her colleague midway through her live show on BBC Radio Five.
Interrupting a sports bulletin on the programme, she said: ‘We’ve had the very sad news that our colleague George Alagiah, BBC presenter – you all know him – who has been living with bowel cancer since 2014 – he has since stepped back from presenting BBC News.
‘We’ve just heard the news he has died aged 65. We’ve just heard that from his agent.’
As her voice started to wobble, she continued: ‘Apologies for the emotion in my voice – he was so enjoyed in our news room.
‘We’ve had that news, we’ll bring you more a little bit later, Rebecca apologies for the interruption, you have the rest of the sport.’
Naga spoke about her colleague again later in the show.
She said: ‘Our beloved colleague, George Alagiah, BBC News reporter, established reporter and correspondent, presenter who whenever he delivered the news you knew you were in safe hands.
‘He was a voice we trusted and he was someone I can personally say I loved, he supported me greatly.
‘Throughout my career…apologies for the emotion in my voice but I do think this will be reflected in our newsroom and our thoughts of course primarily go out to those who loved him dearly and his family.’
Clive Myrie also struggled with his emotions during a news bulletin on BBC One, where he told viewers: ‘George touched all of us here in the newsroom with his kindness and generosity, his warmth and good humour.
‘We loved him here at BBC and I loved him as a mentor, colleague and friend. His spirit, strength and courage in the later years of his life are something his colleagues can be so proud of. Journalism has lost a giant.’
Fiona Bruce said: ‘George was that rare thing – a first-rate journalist and an all round lovely human being.
‘Integrity and decency shone through him. That and a mischievous sense of humour with an endearing giggle.
‘I remember his 60th birthday party, surrounded by his wonderful family and his glamorous sisters like so many birds of paradise.
‘It was an intimate family affair and I know George counted his blessings to be there with the individuals he loved so much.
‘He fought with all he had to stay with them as long as he might. We loved him in the newsroom and we – I – miss him so much.’
Alagiah was a popular and reassuring presence behind a BBC News desk for more than 20 years, his unflappable demeanour making him a struck with viewers.
He signed up with the corporation in 1989 and was among the broadcaster’s leading foreign reporters, submitting dispatches on topics varying from the Rwandan genocide to civil wars throughout Africa.
