Clive Myrie has paid an emotional tribute to his “mentor” George Alagiah while live on BBC News this afternoon.
Tributes have been pouring in from famous names and viewers in their thousands after it was announced earlier today that legendary BBC presenter George Alagiah had sadly passed away at the age of 67 following a long battle with illness after first being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer back in 2014.
The “much-loved” figure was well-known to TV audiences for having been one of the BBC News at Six’s main presenters for almost two decades.
He was appointed an OBE for services to journalism in 2008.
Alagiah had been bravely continuing with his broadcast career between cancer treatments since his initial diagnosis – but the BBC announced in a statement today that the “outstanding” journalist had sadly passed away.
BBC Director General Tim Davie remembered Alagiah as “one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation” in a tribute paid earlier today, adding that everyone across the BBC is “incredibly sad” to learn the news of his passing, as he reported “fearlessly” from across the world, as well as presenting the news “flawlessly”.
“He was more than just an outstanding journalist,” Mr Davie added, “audiences could sense his kindness, empathy and wonderful humanity”.
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It was the job of current BBC News presenter Clive Myrie to break the news of Alagiah’s passing live on air this afternoon – with the Bolton-born journalist then taking the time to pay his own emotional tribute fondly remembering his “mentor”.
Fighting back tears as he spoke, Myrie said in tribute to Alagiah: “On a personal note, George touched all of us here at in the BBC newsroom with his kindness and generosity, his warmth and his good humour.
“I loved him as mentor, colleague, and friend.”
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Viewers have dubbed Myrie’s tribute as a “very moving” moment of live TV.
Reacting to the live tribute, one viewer wrote on Twitter: “Sad to see Clive Myrie welling-up as he read the news about the death of his colleague and friend George Alagiah. Well done Clive for just getting through it, RIP George.”
Another wrote: “Poor Clive Myrie is doing an exceptional job holding it together while announcing George Alagiah’s death on BBC News. You can see how much it’s hurting him.”
“A first class tribute to George Alagiah from Clive Myrie this afternoon,” a third wrote.
Poor Clive Myrie is doing an exceptional job holding it together while announcing George Alagiah's death on BBC News at One.
It must be so difficult announcing the death of someone who was a beloved friend & colleague on national tv. Tom Bradby had the unimaginable difficult task with the passing of Emily Morgan, I was moved to tears then as I have just been at Clive Myrie remembering George Alagiah.
George Alagiah OBE was born in Sri Lanka before moving to Ghana and then England, joining the BBC as a foreign affairs correspondent in 1989.
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Over the course of his career, he won multiple accolades for his reports on the famine and war in Somalia in the early 1990s. He received a BAFTA nomination for covering Saddam Hussein’s genocidal campaign in 1994, which the same year he was named Amnesty International’s journalist of the year.
He had been one of the BBC News at Six’s main presenters for almost two decades.
Featured Image – BBC
TV & Showbiz
Loads of famous films are coming back to UK cinemas to celebrate their anniversaries
Emily Sergeant
Loads of famous films are heading back to cinemas across the UK this spring to celebrate their milestone anniversaries.
From coming of age classics, to legendary romcoms, action films, psychological thrillers, and more, Vue has announced that it’s bringing a roster of much-loved film favourites back to the big screen over the next couple of months.
Kicking things off this weekend (12 April) is the 40th anniversary screening of Stand by Me, a beloved coming of age gem which follows four boys who decide to go see the body of a boy that has died in their rural hometown, while also returning to the big screen is 80s classic, Top Gun, as well as a re-release of the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, for a limited run.
A trio of classic female-led comedies will also be returning as part of the season.
Beginning with everyone’s favourite diarist in Bridget Jones’s Diary – starring Renée Zellweger in the titular role – which returns for its 25th anniversary from 17 April.
Loads of famous films are coming back to UK cinemas to celebrate their anniversaries / Credit: Universal Pictures | Columbia Pictures
Also celebrating 25 years since its initial release is the ultimate sorority-queen-turned-lawyer caper Legally Blonde starring Reese Witherspoon, returning 22 May, and an epic ensemble cast – including Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, and Rose Byrne – in Bridesmaids, which is returning 15 years after its initial release.
The iconic thriller The Silence of the Lambs returns from 24 April, and other highlights include the anniversary releases of the riotous comedy The Birdcage, the cult fantasy adventure Highlander, and the feel-good family favourite Space Jam.
Tickets for all the films are now available to book at Vue Cinemas across Greater Manchester – including the flagship Printworks location in Manchester city centre.
“At Vue, we know there’s nothing quite like experiencing a great film on the big screen,” commented Mike Anton, who is the General Manager of Vue Manchester Printworks, ahead of the films’ re-releases.
“This anniversary season gives audiences the chance to revisit some of their all-time favourites the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen, while also introducing these iconic titles to a new generation of film fans.”
Tickets start from just £4.99 when booked online, with some of the later films on the roster only becoming able to book closer to the time, so keep your eyes peeled.
For more information and to book tickets, visit myvue.com.
Featured Image – Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
TV & Showbiz
AO Arena are hosting an ‘Evening 4’ Ricky Hatton in memory of the legendary Manchester boxer
Danny Jones
Manchester is set to host a night of remembrance and celebration in honour of the late, great, local boxer, Ricky Hatton.
Coming this summer, the AO Arena – where Hatton enjoyed so many of his iconic moments – will be holding the first-ever ‘Evening4Ricky’ later this year.
Held at the legendary sports and live entertainment venue just in time for summer, we still know very little about what the actual event will entail.
Sharing the news on social media, AO Arena said: “Join us for an unforgettable night of entertainment as Manchester comes together for Evening4Ricky.
“This will be a spectacular, unique celebration of the life, spirit and legacy of one of the city’s most beloved icons – Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton.”
With seats priced at £25, fans are being encouraged to join the early bird sign-up to secure access to discounted tickets.
They go on to add: “Hosted at the legendary AO Arena, home to so many of Ricky’s big fights, featuring a superstar cast of legends from the worlds of boxing, music, comedy and entertainment.”
So, we do at least know there’ll be some famous faces coming along to help make it a memorable Manc moment, just a few months on from the city and beyond uniting for his public funeral procession.
Ricky was beloved not only by the Greater Manchester community but was a popular figure and friend to many in the sporting and showbiz industries.
The homegrown ‘Pride of Hyde‘ tragically left us on 14 September 2025 at the age of just 46, but his passing has once again helped reassert the importance of having more conversations around wellbeing, suicide prevention, and most specifically, men’s mental health.
You can find more information and see how to grab tickets right HERE.
This isn’t the only charitable in memoriam event happening across the region in the coming weeks, either, as Mancs will be gathering to pay tribute to another fellow inspiring sportsman.
Emily Sergeant -
24th July 2023 
