BBC star George Alagiah had important dying wish for wife throughout cancer journey

One of the longest-serving BBC newsreaders George Alagiah has died at the age of 67 following a nine-year battle with bowel cancer. He is survived by his wife, Frances Robathan, and their two children

George Alagiah movingly spoke about his fear of leaving behind his wife of almost 40 years following his diagnosis with bowel cancer nine years ago.

The BBC newsreader, who died today at the age of 67 following his diagnosis in 2014, previously opened up about the one thing he had hoped to do until the very end with his wife Frances Robathan – and the thought of no longer being able to do it ‘haunted’ him.

The Sri Lankan-born journalist, who was one of the broadcaster’s longest-serving newsreaders, last year admitted to the Sunday Telegraph that the one wish he had was to hold his wife’s hand, right up until his last breath.

George said: “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? It haunts me.”