Funny, a bit naughty, so kind – colleague Bruce leads tributes to Sissons
Bruce has led the tributes to veteran newsreader Peter Sissons following his death at the age of 77.
The former BBC and ITN news anchor, whose broadcasting career spanned more than 40 years, died on Tuesday in hospital surrounded by his family.
Question Time host Bruce, who worked alongside Sissons at the BBC, said that he was “one of the loveliest men in broadcasting”.
“His brilliance in news was well known, but to me, he was generous, funny, a bit naughty and so kind. I will miss him very much,” she added.
Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow also praised Sissons – who hosted the first edition of Channel 4 News in 1982 and fronted it for seven years – for setting “the tone and high journalistic standards that the programme seeks to emulate to this day”.
Snow added that he was “a consummate journalist, he showed real courage under fire and was indeed shot in both legs in Biafra.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and erstwhile colleagues. He will be greatly missed.”
BBC broadcaster Andrew Neil tweeted that Sissons “excelled at everything he did and was a first-class broadcaster and journalist to his fingertips”.
He added: “Plus great company off screen. Will miss him. RIP.”
BBC director-general Tony Hall described Sissons as “one of the great television figures of his time – as an interviewer, presenter and world-class journalist”.
Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan said that Sissons was “an excellent journalist & TV newsreader, and splendid ly combative & amusing man”, while his co-star and former BBC Breakfast host Susanna Reid said Sissons’ “voice exuded authority”.
Sissons was a familiar face for decades as a newsreader, joining ITN in 1964 after graduating from Oxford University.
In 1969 he was appointed ITN’S news editor, becoming industrial correspondent a year later, and industrial editor in 1972.