George Alagiah’s final message to viewers is played in emotional video following his death

BBC News at Six aired a final message from George Alagiah, after his co-presenter Sophie Raworth shared that he had hoped to come back on TV for a chance to say one last goodbye to viewers - but sadly never got the chance.

Alagiah died ‘peacefully’ surrounded by his family yesterday (24 July), aged 67.

In a statement, his agent said: "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.

"My thoughts are with Fran, the boys and his wider family."

BBC

Yesterday was an emotional day for BBC News readers who had to report on their friend and colleague’s death.

During last night’s BBC News at Six, a touching final message from Alagiah was played on air, where he spoke about his life 'pre-cancer and post-cancer'.

Introducing the clip, Alagiah's former co-presenter Raworth explained: “I saw him just a few weeks ago. He told me he had hoped to come back to work one last time to say thank you and goodbye, right here, live on air in the studio.

“He didn't get the chance, so we have done it for him. I will leave you now with in his own words.”

In the message, Alagiah 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.

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“Then suddenly you hear those words, ‘I am sorry to have to tell you Mr Alagiah, you have bowel cancer’.

“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.”

Later in the emotional message, he said: “I have got to a place where I see life as a gift and rather than worrying about when it's going to end and how it's going to end, I've gotten to a place where I see it for the gift it is. I feel that gift keenly every morning.”