Cancer fight Alagiah is on his way back to BBC

VETERAN news presenter George Alagiah is set to return to the BBC after 18 months off while fighting bowel cancer, the Mail can reveal.

The 59-year-old, who anchored BBC1’s News at Six for seven years until his departure, went off air in April last year.

At the time he said he was ‘optimistic’ about his chances of a recovery – and his faith has proved well-founded.

He would not reveal the details of his treatment, but a source close to the presenter said: ‘The doctors are very pleased with his progress and recovery.’

Mr Alagiah is now preparing to return our screens in around a fortnight, starting with two or three programmes a week and building up gradually.

He will return to his former position on the News at Six – where presenters Fiona Bruce and Sophie Raworth have been

‘Very pleased with his recovery’

holding the fort – as well as his role on BBC World News’s midday show GMT.

‘Everyone’s extremely pleased he’s recovering and glad he’s returning to work. He’s one of the BBC’s most trusted presenters so I’m sure that audiences will be delighted to see him as well,’ said the source.

Before his hiatus, Mr Alagiah – who was also a frequent presenter on the News At Ten – was one of the best-known faces on the BBC. The Sri Lankan-born journalist started his career in print, before joining the BBC 26 years ago.

After taking an indefinite leave of absence from the BBC last year he said he had been ‘humbled’ by the support he received from viewers.

Since then he has kept a low profile, staying almost silent on Twitter and spending time with his wife of more than 30 years, Frances Robathan.