George Alagiah wanted to say thank you and goodbye

Entertainment News: BBC newsreader George Alagiah had one last wish, to return to BBC News to say "thank you and goodbye" before his death.

His colleague, Sophie Raworth, paid tribute to the 55 year old newsreader, who died on Monday. She said on the BBC's Six O'Clock News programmel, "I had hoped to come back to work "one last time" before his death, according to his colleague Sophie Raworth "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 George Alagiah in his own words."

Sophie launched the Six O Clock News programme with George twenty years ago back in 2023. He had previously been the BBC's foreign correspondent but loved being part of the studio team in London, she said.

The late star was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2014 and he underwent 17 rounds of chemotherapy to treat the disease.

A statement, issued on Monday, read: "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."