Is George Alagiah Suspended From BBC? Who is George Alagiah?
by Mathelene
Updated Jul 10, 2023
Is George Alagiah Suspended from BBC?
No, George Alagiah is not suspended from the BBC. He is currently on a break from presenting BBC News at Six due to his ongoing cancer treatment.
The BBC has recently taken the decision to suspend one of its presenters; however, the identity of the individual facing suspension has not been officially disclosed by the broadcasting company. This lack of disclosure has generated significant curiosity and speculation among both the public and media outlets.
Among the various rumors circulating, there have been suggestions that George Alagiah might be the presenter facing suspension. It is important to emphasize that these rumors remain unconfirmed by the BBC or any other authoritative source. Therefore, until the BBC releases an official statement or provides further information regarding the suspension, it is crucial to treat these rumors as purely speculative and not to assume that George Alagiah is indeed the presenter in question.
It is worth noting that in October 2022, George Alagiah publicly announced that his cancer had spread further, leading him to take a break from his television duties in order to undergo a new series of treatments. However, it is important to avoid making any connections or assumptions about the suspension and Alagiah's health situation without official confirmation from the BBC or an authoritative source.
Who is George Alagiah?
George Maxwell Alagiah is a highly regarded British newsreader, journalist, and television news presenter. He was born on 22 November 1955. He has made significant contributions to the field of journalism throughout his career. From 3 December 2007 onwards, Alagiah has served as the presenter of the BBC News at Six, a prestigious role that highlights his expertise and credibility.
Prior to this, he held the position of main presenter for GMT on BBC World News, starting from its inception on 1 February 2010. These prominent roles have solidified Alagiah's reputation as a respected figure in the world of news broadcasting. Alagiah's presence on screen has been marked by his professionalism, engaging delivery, and ability to provide viewers with insightful analysis and accurate reporting.
His contributions to journalism have been widely recognized, earning him the honor of being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Throughout his career, Alagiah has played a significant role in keeping the public informed about important national and international events. His dedication and commitment to delivering news of the highest standard have earned him a loyal following and cemented his status as a prominent figure in the broadcasting industry.
Name
George Maxwell Alagiah
Age
67 years old
Birth Date
22 November 1955
Profession
Newsreader, journalist, and television news presenter.
George Alagiah Age
George Alagiah is 67 years as of 2023. George Alagiah was born on 22 November 1955 in Colombo, Ceylon. His parents, Donald Alagiah, an engineer, and Therese, were Sri Lankan Tamil. In 1961, when George was a child, his family relocated to Ghana in West Africa, where he received his primary education at Christ the King International School. Growing up, George had the company of his four sisters.
For his secondary education, George attended St John's College, an independent Roman Catholic school situated in Portsmouth, England. After completing his secondary education, he pursued a degree in politics at Van Mildert College, Durham University. During his time at Durham, George actively contributed to the student newspaper, Palatinate, and eventually became its editor. He also held the position of a sabbatical officer within Durham Students' Union.
George Alagiah's educational journey and his involvement in student journalism helped shape his path towards a successful career in broadcasting and journalism.
George Alagiah Career
After gaining seven years of experience in print journalism with South Magazine, George Alagiah joined the BBC in 1989. He initially worked as a Developing World correspondent based in London, and later served as the Southern Africa correspondent in Johannesburg.
Alagiah quickly established himself as one of the BBC's leading foreign correspondents, reporting on significant events such as the genocide in Rwanda, the struggles of the Marsh Arabs in southern Iraq, and the civil wars in Afghanistan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Somalia.
In 2002, Alagiah became the presenter of BBC Four News, which was later rebranded as The World and subsequently as another edition of World News Today. In January 2003, he joined the BBC Six O'Clock News, initially co-presenting with Sophie Raworth until October 2005, and later with Natasha Kaplinsky until October 2007. Since 3 December 2007, Alagiah has been the sole presenter of the Six O'Clock News.
Prior to this, he held the role of deputy anchor for the BBC One O'Clock News and BBC Nine O'Clock News from 1999. From 3 July 2006, he also presented World News Today on BBC World News and BBC Two, which was later renamed GMT from 1 February 2010.
However, he last appeared on the program in 2014. Additionally, Alagiah served as a relief presenter on BBC News at Ten, typically covering Monday to Thursday when the main presenters were unavailable, including Huw Edwards and Fiona Bruce. Alagiah's expertise in Africa and the developing world led him to conduct interviews with notable figures such as Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
He has also produced documentaries and features on various subjects, including an exploration of the challenges faced by affirmative action in America for the Assignment program, an investigation into Saddam Hussein's genocidal campaign against the Kurds of northern Iraq for BBC's Newsnight, and a report on the final reunion of the veterans of Dunkirk.
Throughout his career, George Alagiah has demonstrated a deep understanding of global issues and a commitment to providing insightful reporting and interviews on topics of significance. His contributions as a journalist have solidified his reputation as a respected figure in the field of broadcasting.
George Alagiah Personal Life
George Alagiah is married to Frances Robathan, whom he met during their time at Durham University. Together, they have two children named Adam and Matthew. They currently reside in Stoke Newington, North London. On 17 April 2014, it was publicly disclosed that Alagiah was undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer.
The BBC released a statement expressing gratitude for the well-wishes received and conveying Alagiah's optimism for a positive outcome. In subsequent updates on 28 June, Alagiah shared encouraging progress in his treatment via his Twitter account. In late October 2015, Alagiah announced on Twitter that his treatment had officially concluded, and he returned to his work at the BBC on 10 November. However, in January 2018, it was revealed that his cancer had returned, requiring further treatment.
During an interview with The Sunday Times in March 2018, Alagiah revealed that his cancer was terminal and emphasized that earlier detection could have been possible if the screening program in England had the same age threshold as that in Scotland. In June 2020, Alagiah disclosed that his cancer had metastasized to his lungs, liver, and lymph nodes.
However, he clarified that it was not in a "chronic" or "terminal" stage. In October 2022, Alagiah announced that his cancer had further spread, prompting him to take a hiatus from television to pursue a new series of treatment.
Is George Alagiah Suspended From BBC? - FAQs
There is no information available indicating that George Alagiah has been suspended from the BBC.
George Alagiah is a British newsreader, journalist, and television news presenter.
Yes, he is married to Frances Robathan, whom he met at Durham University.
George Alagiah has two children named Adam and Matthew.
Yes, George Alagiah has taken breaks from television to undergo treatment for his cancer. The most recent break occurred in October 2022 when his cancer had spread further, necessitating a new series of treatment.