BBC stars share emotional musical tribute to BBC News At Six anchor George Alagiah who died from bowel cancer at 67 following memorial service attended by colleagues

• BBC News at Six presenter George Alagiah died on July 24 in London aged 67
• Memorial service at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square today

BBC stars have shared an emotional musical tribute to George Alagiah after a memorial service to the newsreader following his death.

The BBC News At Six anchor, who died four months ago at the age of 67 following a battle with bowel cancer, was commemorated at a service in St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, central London, on Tuesday.

At the ceremony Steve Rosenberg, the corporation’s Russia Editor, performed a moving piano piece, which has been shared on social media to images and clips of the late broadcaster.

As well as a rendition of the BBC News theme, the tribute featured a Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika (Lord Bless Africa), a Christian hymn which is considered the unofficial African national anthem, played over segments from his time reporting on the continent.

The emotional video later showed Mr Alagiah with his family with the veteran journalist remarking how his life had ‘been a gift’, accompanied by a piano performance of Malaika (Angel), a Swahili love song.

Sharing it on X (formerly known as Twitter), Mr Rosenberg said: ‘It was an honour for me to play the piano at George Alagiah’s memorial service. Such an emotional, uplifting celebration of his life. Here’s the montage of George at work and at home for which I provided a musical accompaniment.’

BBC News at Six presenter George Alagiah (pictured) died on July 24 in London aged 67 following a battle with bowel cancer

BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth (pictured) was among those at George Alagiah’s memorial service today. She read out the moving words which Mr Alagiah wanted to be shared at his memorial

Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence (far left) and Mark Austin (next to him) at George Alagiah’s memorial service at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London’s Trafalgar Square today

Natasha Kaplinsky attends the memorial service for her former colleague George Alagiah today

Alagiah’s wife Frances Robathan is pictured outside the service for her late husband today

George Alagiah’s sisters are pictured at the memorial service for their late brother in London

Pictured at the Trafalgar Square memorial service is Adam Alagiah, one of the late George Alagiah’s two sons

Sian Williams smiles outside St Martin-in-the-Fields where Alagiah’s service was held today

At the end of the service moving words written by Mr Alagiah himself were read out by his former BBC Six O’Clock News co-presenter and good friend Sophie Raworth to the star-studded crowd.

Mr Alagiah’s wife Frances Robathan, with whom he had two children, and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence – Princess Anne’s husband – also attended the service led by Reverend Dr Sam Wells which featured music from the London African Gospel Choir.

Ms Raworth told the congregation: ‘We end the programme today with George in his own words. If you haven’t already told the people you love, that you love them, tell them. If you haven’t already told them how vulnerable you sometimes feel, tell them.

READ MORE HERE:  Natasha Kaplinsky makes a rare public appearance as she attends memorial for fellow BBC News At Six presenter George Alagiah in London after journalist’s tragic death from cancer

‘If you want to tell them that you would like to be with them until the front hall stairs feel like Everest, tell them. You never know what is coming around the corner. And if, lucky you, there is nothing around the corner, then at least you got your defence in first.’

Three weeks before he died, Mr Alagiah dictated to his wife the words he wanted to be shared at his memorial.

‘It is a painful yet exclusive luxury to be living with cancer because for the most part it is a story of a death foretold,’ he said, according to the BBC. ‘Many of us cancer patients know that our time is running out so there is time for reflection. It is not the brutality of a car crash.’ 

Presenters including Mishal Husain, Fiona Bruce and Ms Raworth were also in attendance for the service.

Other stars present were Nick Robinson, Mark Austin, Reeta Chakrabarti, Natasha Kaplinsky, Fergus Walsh, Simon McCoy, Sian Williams and Matthew Amroliwala. 

Sri Lanka-born journalist Alagiah, the face of BBC One’s News At Six since 2007, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes, in April 2014.

He endured two rounds of chemotherapy and several operations, including the removal of most of his liver.

In October 2015 he announced that his treatment was over and returned to BBC News At Six on November 10.

Alagiah joined the BBC in 1989 and spent many years as one of the corporation’s leading foreign correspondents before moving to presenting.

He first began hosting the 6pm news bulletin in early 2003, but stepped up to front it solo four years later following the departure of his co-host, Natasha Kaplinsky.

A close up of the Order of Service for George Alagiah’s funeral service is pictured this afternoon

BBC presenters Fiona Bruce (left) and Mishal Husain speak outside the memorial today

BBC Radio 4’s Today programme host Nick Robinson is pictured outside the memorial today

BBC newsreader Matthew Amroliwala at the memorial service for George Alagiah today

BBC colleagues Reeta Chakrabarti and Fergus Walsh outside Alagiah’s service in London today

Former BBC newsreader Simon McCoy and BBC News Health Editor Hugh Pym chat at the funeral

Alagiah joined the BBC in 1989 and spent many years as one of the corporation’s leading foreign correspondents before moving to presenting

He was previously a prominent foreign correspondent, often as a specialist in Africa with coverage of civil wars in Somalia and Liberia as well as the genocide in Rwanda 20 years ago.

Throughout his career he interviewed central political figures, among them former South African president Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and ex-Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe.

Before joining the BBC, Alagiah worked as a print journalist and went on to write a number of books including A Home From Home, which looked at what it means to be British.

Throughout his illustrious career, he also presented other shows such as Mixed Britannia, looking at the UK’s mixed-race population.

He was made an OBE in the 2008 New Year Honours.

Former BBC newsreader Simon McCoy, who also worked for GB News, at the service today

Reverend Dr Sam Wells led the service today at his church, St Martin-in-the-Fields

The service at St Martin-in-the-Fields featured music from the London African Gospel Choir

His cancer returned in December 2017 and he underwent further treatment before again returning to work.

He took another break from studio duties in October 2021 to deal with a further spread of cancer, before returning in April 2022.

In October last year, Alagiah announced he was taking a break from presenting the BBC’s News At Six following another scan.

Alagiah spoke openly about the experience of living with cancer, joining a videocast for the charity Bowel Cancer UK in 2020 in which he said he sometimes felt he had the ‘easy part’, living with bowel cancer while his loved ones had to watch.

He died on July 24 in London aged 67.

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