The broadcasting industry lost one of its greats this week.
According to the Daily Caller, BBC news anchor George Alagiah, a renowned news anchor and overall legend in the business, was reported to have died at age 67.
His death reportedly came in the wake of a long, hard battle with cancer. Alagiah was one of the British network's longest-serving journalists.
The Daily Caller noted:
Alagiah was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in April 2014, which spread to his liver and lymph nodes, which he revealed in 2022.
"It is with deep sadness that the BBC is announcing the death of its much-loved journalist and presenter George Alagiah," BBC Press Office tweeted.
It is with deep sadness that the BBC is announcing the death of its much-loved journalist and presenter George Alagiah.https://t.co/W5TPEKmTIP pic.twitter.com/bP5mwtjHLG
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) July 24, 2023
"I am so terribly sorry to inform you that George Alagiah died peacefully today, surrounded by his family and loved ones. 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," his agent, Mary Greenham, wrote in a statement confirming he had passed.
The long-serving, renowned journalist was celebrated across social media, with fellow journalists and fans alike paying respect to his distinguished career in the field.
"George Alagiah represented not just the best of the #BBC, but the best of humanity within the 20th and 21st century. Thank you for everything, George. RIP George Alagiah," one Twitter user wrote.
I’ve recorded this tribute to George Alagiah: one of the finest and nicest journalists at the BBC. For the former Africa correspondent, I play Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (Lord Bless Africa). Thank you to George's close friend Allan Little @alittl for suggesting the music. pic.twitter.com/yUhxOVcEdq
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) July 24, 2023
The Daily Caller noted:
Alagiah joined the BBC in 1989 as a foreign correspondent. Throughout his career, he interviewed everyone from Nelson Mandela to Robert Mugabe and won awards for his coverage of the Rwandan genocide. He also won a BAFTA for his 1994 coverage of Saddam Hussein’s Kurdish genocide campaign in Iraq.
George Alagiah … always smiling. We were laughing about how we always said we’d stay ‘on the road’ but then sought the comfort of the studio ! This was 2016 two years after his diagnosis . Such a good man … pic.twitter.com/WSK3ScCqDp
— Mark Austin (@markaustintv) July 24, 2023
Clearly, he will be missed by many.
The respected journalist is survived by his wife, Frances Robathan, and their two children, the report added.
