), He has asked for our interview to be on Zoom. He continues: 'The thing about bowel cancer is, it is all about poo and bums and people dont like talking about them. He began his journalistic career in 1982 on the international magazine South, becoming its Africa editor, before joining the BBC seven years later. The 66-year-old newsreader, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014, announced he was taking a break from his presenting duties in October last year. Adam is four years elder than his younger brother Matthew as he has now reached the age of 34, while Matthew is still 30 as of 2022. But Ive got amazing colleagues at the BBC who step in to my place on the rota.. George Alagiah: I have a tumour site in my lower back - I've spent a lot of time in pain'. The BBC turned me down three times at the start of my career, and Im grateful. George Alagiah has confirmed he'll be back on BBC News tonight following months of cancer treatment. Call it habit, call it superstition. The BBC responded that in keeping with its principles of impartiality, it would be inappropriate for one of its leading journalists to be seen supporting a movement that clearly represents a controversial view of global trade. he said. He says: 'It is near my L5 lowest vertebra. Alagiah has also worked as a BBC News foreign correspondent and specialist on Africa and the developing world, covering events including the Rwandan genocide and interviewing Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. George Alagiah married Robathan the high school sweetheart in the year 1984. The disease returned in 2017 and he also contracted COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic in 2020. He is the third born. That day, it was okay.'. We would end the day by sitting around saying the rosary. George Alagiah Granddaughter He states that his granddaughter's birth was nothing but a spiritual experience. [20] In late October 2015 he announced on Twitter that the treatment was officially over, and he returned to the BBC on 10 November. Being healthy, being content, being physically comfortable is as much about the mind as it is the body., He uses breathing techniques taught to him by his very clever and imaginative osteopath to calm his mind and deal with its reaction to the pain caused by the tumour next to his spine. By the end of the three days Ive been on it so much that my fingernails are beginning to fall off. He holds them up to the camera to demonstrate. He was formerly a relief presenter on BBC News at Ten, presenting mainly Monday to Thursday when main presenters Huw Edwards and Fiona Bruce were unavailable. In 2010, he received the Outstanding Achievement in Television award at the Asian Awards. Having spent 14 years delivering the nation the latest headlines, most recently, Alagiah has made headlines himself after he . His has been, he says, a blessed life. She even waited until my birthday to arrive. His parents moved to Ghana, West Africa, in 1961. Im not afraid of vulnerability or saying I am vulnerable, so Im slightly surprised at myself that I kept seeing these leaflets and pamphlets, but somehow I had in my head that if I go to Macmillan, I would be telling myself its over. Since 2010 he has been the host and presenter on GMT. Diagnosed with cancer Series two Episode four: Surgery and bowel cancer You can be right out there or in the background. I have had days when things feel more difficult, when I feel, how long is this going to go on for? It comes following the death of former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull aged 66 following a battle with prostate cancer this week. Im trying very hard not to get emotional.. In 1982, he began his first journalistic role for international magazine South, before joining the BBC in 1989. The Burning Land, Alagiahs debut novel, was shortlisted for a Society of Authors award in 2020. He has been a patron of Parenting UK since 2000. Studied at the King InternationalSchool and later studied at St. John's College. Born in 1955, we will celebrate his 66th birthday on 22 November 2021. British television journalist known for presenting on BBC News at Six, BBC World News, and BBC News at Ten. On April 17, 2014, George was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and was treated for it. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. Frances Robathan, 61, is the wife of BBC News at Six presenter George Alagiah, 66. The news was confirmed by his agent Mary Greenham. On 28th June, Alagiah announced on his Twitter account that he was making "encouraging progress". I call it getting comfort. - last year just 49% of pupils on the programme were Pupil Premium eligible. George Alagiah was first diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in April 2014, which subsequently spread to his lungs, liver and lymph nodes. But I have discomfort all the way from my mouth to my bum. 'When I called her, she was walking out of the Marsden [Londons leading cancer hospital], having had her own regular scan to see if the cancer was spreading. The globe looks different depending on where youre standing. Alagiah was born in Colombo, Ceylon on 22 November 1955. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. It was a gathering full of passion and joy, but tinged with the realisation that some of us were more vulnerable than others. One brother-in-law died last year, another has pancreatic cancer. Among his many interviews was one with President Nelson Mandela of South Africa. He returned to presenting duties the following year after making progress against the disease, saying at the time he was a 'richer person' for it. The 66-year-old newsreader was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer . BBC newsreader George Alagiah has said he has no time to worry about death as his cancer spreads - because he is busy focusing on living. Further scans showed that the cancerous cells spread to his lymph nodes along with his liver. In my job one cant decide that the view you subscribe to is the only one. George and Frances married in 1984, after meeting in Durham University, where they both studied. He is the third born. According to the BBC, it would be improper for one of its top journalists to be seen promoting a campaign that plainly reflects a controversial view of global trade, in keeping with its values of impartiality. I had no cause to do that before, but it is an important assertion of my living in the moment. He does not ask, he points out, if I am going to be here next month. George Alagiah's age is 67. Its has been decades, George has been working for BBC, and no doubt he gets paid in huge numbers. I am absolutely convinced that those things that keep you content and in the present and not thinking tomorrow the pain is going to be worse, are not just useful but are proven to work. Carrying on working is a part of that, he says, just as lying on the lawn or a beach with my granddaughters [he has three, to whom he is devoted] is also a part of that., He seems to be saying that cancer has changed him, and not always in bad ways. So, I understand it, but Im afraid I no longer have it. He thinks for a moment. Initially became editor of the student newspaper Palatinate. He is on the Board of the Royal Shakespeare Company. The minute your children are the reference point, you know you've done your job. The BBC presenter reflected in an interview about his career and marriage of 37 years. He is one of the famous journalist for BBC, where Carol Kirkwood also serves as a journalist. He said in June 2020 that the cancer had spread to his lungs, liver and lymph nodes. I think I am an emotional man. He even manages to smile as he says it. A persistent change in bowel habit - going more often, with looser stools and sometimes tummy pain, Blood in the stools without other symptoms, such as piles, Abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating - sometimes resulting in a reduction in the amount of food eaten and weight loss. According to The Guardian, Alagiah makes $325,000 to $395,000 annually as BBC presenter. On my wife's side, somebody asked my father-in-law, who was a country lawyer: "Is this Ala-whatsit educated?". George Alagiah reflects on cancer journey alongside Sheridan Smith. Family of US . The thing about bowel cancer is, it is all about poo and bums and people dont like talking about them. Born in Sri Lanka, Alagiah's parents left for west Africa when he was a young child. . If they all knew what I thought on every topic we report on, wed lose some of them. My family home was a very Catholic home. The novel is described as a thrilling, fast-paced thriller set in South Africa involving corruption and homicide.. It's growing very slowly," he said on the podcast Desperately Seeking Wisdom. [6] The family's former home had been destroyed, but he was able to recognise an old well where he had played with his sisters, although the well was unsalvageable. My sons Adam and Matthew, who are 23 and 19, are amazing guys. His wider family had a reunion recently, all four sisters, most of my nieces and nephews. As an immigrant child I mentally parcelled up all the things that made me different. When talking about being recognised as a celebrity, George said his sons keep him down to earth. We understood the sacrifice my parents had made in sending us to school so we wanted to make those holidays the best they could be for our parents. [17] The couple have two children, Adam and Matthew. His income is mainly from his successful career as a broadcast journalist. He has two younger sisters and two older sisters. The things that had gone well far outweighed the others, which brought me to a place of total contentment. He was previously a relief presenter on BBC News at Ten, filling in for regular presenters Fiona Bruce and Huw Edwards when they were absent. Since 3 December 2007, he has been the presenter of the BBC News at Six and was previously the main presenter of GMT on BBC World News since its launch on 1 February 2010. After completing his secondary education at St Johns College, a private Roman Catholic school in Portsmouth, England, he went on to Van Mildert College, Durham University, to study politics. Alagiah has an estimated net worth of between $1 million -$5 million. [14], In 2020, his debut novel The Burning Land was shortlisted for a Society of Authors' award. Before that, Alagiah was the deputy anchor of the BBC One O'Clock News and BBC Nine O'Clock News from 1999. Dont miss to subscribe to our new feeds, kindly fill the form below. He was a sabbatical officer of the Durham Students Union. Jamie Phillips For Mailonline, George Alagiah RETURNS to BBC's News At Six, six months after stepping back to undergo treatment for bowel cancer, 'Both inside and out, he was kind and generous - and had a wicked sense of humour': Stars pay tribute to 'brave' Bill Turnbull after 'talented' journalist died aged 66 following battle with prostate cancer. There is no stage five. The popular journalist George suffered a lot but his wife and family were always by his side. One of the things I want to do is hold hands with my wife until the end, and am I going to be able to do that? Despite the fact that the family's previous residence . He joined the BBC Six OClock News in January 2003, co-presenting it with Sophie Raworth until October 2005, and then with Natasha Kaplinsky until October 2007. Ultimately, in October 2015, George announced on Twitter that his treatment was over and went back to the BBC on 10th November. Well, the couple has been together for almost 33 years with no divorce rumors and affairs. It was back in 2014 that the 66-year old BBC newsreader, George Alagiah was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. Aged 11, I got sent to a Catholic boarding school in Portsmouth. On being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2014, I constructed a pros and cons list of how my life had gone so far. It's the idea that I'm only human if I recognise the humanity in you. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thats the one we are watching.'. 'But I have discomfort all the way from my mouth to my bum. It is an . He spent a decade as the corporation's foreign correspondent, winning a Baftafor his coverage of the Kosovo conflict in 2000. He also states that she was waiting until the arrival of his birthday. George Alagiah's Controversy & Recent News The famous British journalist is a married man. . 10:24 GMT 04 Sep 2022. And then there were people saying, come and help us with the campaign. Alagiah, 66, has been married to wife Frances, an executive with the Fairtrade Foundation charity, for 36 years. He looks slim and perfect this time. Both of which are significant. George recalled the memory and said, "The doctors are very careful in what they say, so you have to read between the lines and work out what theyre not saying. @SchoolsWeek. George Alagiah has shared his belief his diet may have something to do with him first being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014. During his days at Durham, Alagiah was a writer and editor for the student newspaper titled palatinate. [18], On 17 April 2014, it was announced that Alagiah was being treated for colorectal cancer. Of course I wish I never had this disease, but Im not sure Id give these six years back. Reports on why affirmative action in America is a Lost Cause for the Assignment program, Saddam Husseins genocidal campaign against the Kurds of northern Iraq for the BBCs Newsnight program, and a report on the last reunion of Dunkirk veterans are among Alagiahs other documentaries and features. But I cannot wait until they're the ones driving the car and I'm the one snoozing in the back. I dont know if it is into my spine. Adam Alagiah was born in the year 1987 and is now 34 years old. 195 ratings27 reviews As a five-year-old, George Alagiah emigrated with his family to Ghanathe first African country to attain independence from the British Empire. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. That will come as no surprise to those who tune in to BBC Ones News at Six each evening and watch him as effortless, reassuring and handsome as ever, and maybe even forget that he announced in 2014 that he had been diagnosed with stage-four bowel cancer. When it comes to my family, I still have this sense of He stumbles briefly and uncharacteristically. Alagiah was born in Colombo, Ceylon on 22 November 1955. Alagiah stands approximately at a height of 5 feet 10 inches tall and he weighs 87 kg. [12][13] He has also been actively involved in supporting microfinance as a tool for development, including recent appearances in support of Opportunity International. George Alagiah and Frances Robathan have two children - Adam, 34, and Matthew, 30. As well as presenting the news, Alagiah has worked as a BBC News foreign correspondent and specialist on Africa and the developing world, covering events including the Rwandan genocide and interviewing Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. When youre closer to your last day, you live each one with an intensity you couldnt have previously imagined. If the full stop came now, would my life have been a failure? But wouldn't it be amazing if the kids could go across a hallway and do their homework with him? In my own extended family, among my mixed-heritage nieces, nephews and . Discover George Alagiah's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. British journalist and reader of BBC News at Six, George Alagiah has declared that he would be taking time off from his presenting duties after it was discovered through a scan that his bowel cancer has spread. [4] His parents, Donald Alagiah, an engineer, and Therese, were Sri Lankan Tamil. My mother was the realist. Alagiah says he told her to inform her family immediately, but instead she stopped and spoke to him for half an hour. The journalist, 66, returned to the BBC's News at Six in April. Through my work I've seen the world at its worst and I often wish I could make it better. The duo tied the knot in 1984 and they have two sons, Adam Alagiah and Matthew Alagiah. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. BBC newsreader George Alagiah, 66, left viewers and colleagues emotional today over his return to broadcasting.Earlier this afternoon, George had taken to Twitter to announce his return to the . It happens quite regularly when you are on chemo. George Alagiah father's name is under review and mother unknown at this time. There were 28 of us. Two sisters live in Britain, another in Switzerland and one in Florida. In addition, George celebrates his birthday on the 22nd of November every year and his zodiac sign is Sagittarius. He is doing a better job than me at keeping his eyes dry. From 2002 to 2009, Alagiah was a patron of the Fairtrade Foundation[9] from which in July 2009, he was obliged to resign by BBC Management who claimed professional conflict of interest. '", I saved myself from Royal life, Harry says & insists 'sharing's an act of service', Love Island's Olivia Hawkins breaks silence as she returns to the UK, Loose Women star lined up to be Strictly's first contestant in wheelchair, Coronation Street fans horrified as Amy Barlow is raped in disturbing scenes, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. George Alagiah was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. In a casual pink and orange T-shirt, he is sitting in the family picture-lined top-floor office of his large and attractively lived-in north London home, shared with his wife of 38 years, former charity worker (at the Fairtrade Foundation) Frances Robathan. I envy people who have faith. What kind of architecture do we need? My children go to a school attended by some 70 nationalities. More importantly, it is sitting very close to the nerve and the aorta. At 11, Alagiah was sent as his sisters before him had been to a Catholic boarding school in Portsmouth. I respect the gentleness with which my dad nursed my mother before she died in 1996. And on continuing to read the news despite his diagnoses, he adds: 'Going into the newsroom doesnt kill any cancer cells, thats for sure. How, I wonder, does he manage the pain if it strikes suddenly while he is reading the headlines, or interviewing someone live in the studio? He has lost count of the number of rounds, more than a hundred not the 17 sometimes mentioned in reports, he points out, making a plea for old-fashioned accuracy in journalism. My career took me to some of the most dangerous places on the planet, and nothing ever turned out quite as bad as I thought it might., What has changed as a result of diagnosis, he says, is his understanding of the richness of each day. Best of BBC Future . George is currently serving as a main relief presenter for BBC Ten O'Clock News. In 2004, he returned to his grandfather's original home in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami to survey the damage. 'Ive been with people who treat me as they always did, who dont patronise me, and it is a tremendous fillip.'. Prior to that, he had been the deputy anchor of the BBC One O'Clock News and BBC Nine O'Clock News from 1999. The 41-year-old who rose to fame starring in popular sitcoms The Royle Family, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and . [6] His other documentaries and features include reports on why affirmative action in America is a 'Lost Cause', for the Assignment programme, Saddam Hussein's genocidal campaign against the Kurds of northern Iraq for the BBC's Newsnight programme and a report on the last reunion of the veterans of Dunkirk.[8]. I find the "men versus women" thing difficult to understand because I've never seen them as different. George Maxwell Alagiah OBE (/la/ born 22 November 1955)[2][3] is a British newsreader, journalist and television news presenter. It took me that long to feel comfortable in my Britishness; to reach a point where I didnt feel it could be taken away. Being a journalist is not an easy job. [21][22] In January 2018 it emerged that the cancer had returned and he would undergo further treatment. During an interview with The Sunday Times in 2018, George said that his cancer was curable and could be discovered earlier. Alagiah was first diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in April 2014. British newsreader and presenter George Alagiah is a fighter!!!!!! There is clearly a private story that runs in parallel with the public appearances. The couple, who have two sons in their thirties, met at university. He has two younger sisters and two older sisters. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, George Alagiah, 66, and Frances Robathan, 61, have been married for 37 years, George Alagiah and wife Frances, accompanied by their sons Adam, left and Matt, right, at Buckingham Palace, first diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). In the seat I regularly occupy on the BBC News at Six, I speak to millions of people. Then a nurse disconnects it. Frances has never bothered about her kids as they love to follow in their father's footsteps. Alagiah has been married to wife Frances, a former executive with the Fairtrade Foundation charity, for more than 30 years after the couple, who have two sons in their thirties, met at. 1961, George's parents shifted to Ghana, West Africa, where Alagiah joined Christ the King international School. 'More importantly, it is sitting very close to the nerve and the aorta. 3 January 2022 George Alagiah said his life and family "didn't feel like a failure" BBC newsreader George Alagiah has said he thinks the cancer he has had since 2014 will "probably get me. When he was six, his parents moved to Ghana, West Africa to avoid persecution. My sons Adam and Matthew, who are 23 and 19, are amazing guys. Disappointing, but not unexpected given this KPI was quietly scrapped for providers. Speaking on the podcast Desperately Seeking Wisdom he said that when his cancer was first diagnosed, it took a while for him to understand what he "needed to do". They have been together since they met for the first time at Durham University when Frances was 19 and George 20. [16], He is married to Frances Robathan, whom he met at Durham University. Our marriage was a shock to him but, to his credit, he replied, "That boy is more educated than you and I will ever be.". BBC newsreader George Alagiah was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in April 2014. Her sons always made their family feel like a sober family and make them complete. The elder one is doing international development and I think Matthew could be a writer. BBC newsreader George Alagiah, 66, last night said his bowel cancer was going to 'find a way through the drugs sooner or later' after announcing the disease had spread further. Up to when I was six, we lived in Sri Lanka, then my father got a job for the government in Ghana. Yes, George Alagiah does have a wife. , updated Who is George Alagiah's wife? Sam Moore. Poor leadership is definitely part of it., His father started working as an engineer in Ghana. "I spent a lot of my time in Africa, and in South Africa they have a word: Ubuntu. He said: 'We had a mutual friend. "I'm missing my colleagues", he said, adding that he was looking forward to returning to the studio "as soon as I can". But thats right now and it may not be true for tomorrow. George Alagiah: I'm lucky for the life I've had, but cancer will probably get me in the end The BBC newsreader, 66, says he has resolved to enjoy the present moment By Victoria Ward 3 January. Dec 9, 2022. I see him once a week and phone him every evening; my sisters see him every day. [7] His secondary education took place at St John's College, an independent Roman Catholic school in Portsmouth, England, after which he read politics at Van Mildert College, Durham University. Its almost meditative.. GEORGE ALAGIAH is a recognisable newsreader and television presenter. My sons Adam and Matthew, who are 23 and 19, are amazing guys. One thing you learn is that with cancer each day is a different day., Born in Sri Lanka, the middle child in a family of five, and the only boy, his parents Donald and Therese Tamil Catholics, a minority group in the islands population left for west Africa when Alagiah was six, deciding (correctly, as subsequent history has shown) that they wouldnt get a fair chance in their own country. In his glossy portrait taken by celebrity photographer Rankin as part of a new campaign by Macmillan Cancer Support, George Alagiah is looking good. Alagiah first joined BBC News at Six (1984) as a newsreader in 2003 and became a much-recognized face of BBC news, also presenting slots in BBC News at Ten (2000) and BBC One O'Clock News (1986), among others. Its still happening 28 years later. He was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in April 2014; the terrifying journey of the guy. Alagiah revealed in June 2020 that his cancer had spread to his lungs, liver, and lymph nodes. Photograph: Eamonn McCabe for the Guardian. Ive not had the anger but it takes quite a lot anyway to get me angry. View our online Press Pack. George Maxwell Alagiah OBE is a British newsreader, journalist, and news presenter who began his career as a reporter and correspondent for the BBC in 1989. The award-winning BBC news presenter talks about his ongoing eight-year struggle with cancer and the rejuvenating role of the workplace. George married Frances Robathan in 1984. So, today, let us discuss her married life, children, and battle with cancer in this section!!!!! The only time he even starts to look his age is when he puts on a striking pair of dark pink specs to work out how to turn off a message that keeps appearing on his computer screen. We werent poor people, by the way, but it is just the way things were in Sri Lanka in the 1950s. 'Energised and motivated' The presenter has kept working as much as . Alagiah was born on 22nd November 1955, in Colombo, Ceylon, Sri Lanka. He was first diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2014 and has stepped back from presenting intermittently for treatment since then.