George Alagiah, BBC Newsreader, Dies Aged 67

BBC director general Tim Davie remembered him as one of "the best and bravest journalists".
George Alagiah
George Alagiah
Simone Padovani/Awakening via Getty Images

BBC newsreader George Alagiah has died at the age of 67, it has been announced.

The journalist and presenter died on Monday, the BBC said.

He had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014.

In a statement, 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.”

George first joined the BBC as a foreign affairs correspondent in 1989, and won accolades for his reports on the famine and war in Somalia in the early 1990s, and was nominated for a Bafta in 1994 for covering Saddam Hussein’s genocidal campaign against the Kurds of northern Iraq.

He was also named Amnesty International’s journalist of the year in 1994 for reporting on the civil war in Burundi and also won the Broadcasting Press Guild’s award for television journalist of the year.

Since 2003, George had been the regular presenter of BBC News at Six, as well as hosting News at One and News at Six.

George was one of the BBC's most loved newsreaders
George was one of the BBC's most loved newsreaders
Jeff Overs/BBC via PA Media

George, who was appointed an OBE for services to journalism in 2008, underwent 17 rounds of chemotherapy to treat his advanced bowel cancer after he was first diagnosed in 2014.

He returned to presenting duties in 2015 after making progress against the disease, and said he was a “richer person” for it.

His cancer returned in December 2017, and the presenter underwent further treatment before once again returning to work.

Last October, he announced a break from his role on BBC News as he dealt with “a further spread” of the disease.

Following the news of George’s death, many of his BBC colleagues past and present and other figures from the journalism industry paid tribute on social media:

Rare in our industry for someone to be so universally loved. There won’t be many dry eyes today in the BBC newsroom. What a beautiful man. https://t.co/77KBGmP4HT

— Nick Bryant (@NickBryantNY) July 24, 2023

Deeply, deeply sorry to hear about dear George Alagiah. A gentler, kinder, more insightful and braver friend and colleague it would be hard to find. I loved having his company in the BBC World Affairs Unit, and his progress after that was a pleasure to watch.

— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) July 24, 2023

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 … https://t.co/VFZs3fuDzO

— Mark Austin (@markaustintv) July 24, 2023

Growing up, when the BBC’s George Alagiah was on TV my dad would shout “George is on!”. We’d run to watch the man who inspired a generation of British Asian journalists.

That scene was replicated across the U.K.

We thank you, George. RIP xx 💔 https://t.co/tkh9NOtHip

— Sangita Myska (@SangitaMyska) July 24, 2023

....the saddest of goodbyes to George...a great broadcaster, kind colleague, thoughtful journalist and a wonderful person with such a warm smile and lovely laugh...he inspired so many...and fought until the very end... #GeorgeAlagiah https://t.co/7OJkdRtivK

— lyse doucet (@bbclysedoucet) July 24, 2023

Really sad news after a long battle. Thoughts with George’s family, friends and colleagues. https://t.co/CpctZvc8OQ

— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) July 24, 2023

Such sad news. RIP George Alagiah https://t.co/mWY15FBox1

— Katie Razzall (@katierazz) July 24, 2023

Such a sad loss. George Alagiah fought a long battle with cancer and will be hugely missed.
Thoughts with his family and his many friends and colleagues at BBC News.
Rest in Peace 🖤 https://t.co/NsDRVoPxs5

— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) July 24, 2023

Really devastating news - George was an absolute icon and inspiration - thoughts with his family https://t.co/9BqwwKkb9f

— Shehab Khan ITV (@ShehabKhan) July 24, 2023

This is really sad news…
I saw George last year in the newsroom.He was his gracious,cheerful self.I’ll never forget how supportive he was when I was reporting from the Middle East. A top journalist,a role model and a lovely person. May he rest in peace. https://t.co/FwuYz2XQ94

— shaimaa khalil BBC (@Shaimaakhalil) July 24, 2023

A phenomenal journalist and a great man. RIP #GeorgeAlagiah https://t.co/XDymSZFtmi

— Nomia Iqbal (@NomiaIqbal) July 24, 2023

George is survived by his wife of 40 years, Frances Robathan, their two sons and three grandchildren.

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