BBC newsman George: Bowel cancer is back
BBC TV newsreader George Alagiah is battling bowel cancer for a third time, his agent revealed yesterday.
The broadcaster, 63, says he intends to continue in his role as presenter of News at Six, but he may have to take some time off while he undergoes treatment.
Yesterday, his agent, Mary Greenham, said: “George will aim to be on air as much as possible.
She added: “But [he] may need to reduce his workload in the next few weeks as he begins a new regime of treatment to deal with a recent recurrence of his cancer. He is always grateful to the public for the tremendous support he received.”
Alagiah has only been back on Host George reads news
screens since January, after taking a over year off after his cancer first returned in 2017.
He said of his illness at the time: “We’ve got the cancer in a holding pattern, so it’s back to work with colleagues I respect and the viewers who make it worthwhile.”
The dad-of-two, who has hosted News at Six for over a decade, was first diagnosed with stage-four bowel cancer in 2014. He had 17 rounds of chemotherapy before returning to his presenting role.
When the disease came back in 2017, he said: “My brilliant doctors are determined to get me back to a disease-free state, and I know they have the skill to do just that.
“I learned last time around how important the support of family and friends is, and I am blessed in that department. I genuinely feel positive as I prepare for this new challenge.”
But he also revealed: “I found it harder the second time round. I got seduced into the idea that I was the guy who made it. So to be told it had come back was quite tough.”