Tributes are paid to popular TV presenter
TRIBUTES have been paid to former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull following his death at the age of 66.
The broadcaster, who lived in Rainow until leaving his role on the breakfast programme in 2016, died on Wednesday, August 31.
His family announced that he had ‘passed away peacefully at his home in Suffolk surrounded by his family’ after a ‘challenging and committed fight against prostate cancer.’
More recently Bill had featured on radio station Classic FM but his 15 years on BBC Breakfast will be how many remember him.
For some of this time he lived in Rainow, where he became a well-liked and respected part of the community.
And he was equally enamoured with the Macclesfield
area - listing its countryside, the Treacle Market, Silk Screen Society and Flour Water Salt bakery as among his highlights.
Bill was even seen helping out by pulling pints at the Macclesfield Beer Festival.
Following his death Naga Munchetty, who co-hosted the breakfast show with him, said live on air: “I can only say as a team we are in shock this morning, we know what he meant to so many of you viewers.
“We are all sending our thoughts and condolences as well to Sesi and Bill’s family.
“We will miss him very much.”
Bill left the show in 2016 and moved to London for other work commitments.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017.
His family said in a statement: “Although Bill was often in pain, he was dignified and brave throughout and he was his usual determined self right until the very end.
“He made us laugh everyday. We are immensely proud of him. He was the heart of our family. It’s hard to imagine life without him.”
Bill also proved a hit as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing partnered with Karen Hardy in 2005.
The show’s official Twitter account paid tribute, saying: “A truly brilliant broadcaster turned ballroom dancer when he joined us on series three of Strictly.”
Upon leaving the area Bill wrote a heartfelt piece for the Macclesfield Express.
It said: “New York, London, Paris, Munich. I’ve lived in all of them at some point or other, and a few other places besides. But I can honestly say none of them can quite match Macclesfield for character.
“We’ve got plenty of memories to keep us going when we leave. It hasn’t just been Macclesfield we’ve fallen for. There’s been Rainow, of course, and Bollington. Who couldn’t love a place that has not one, but two breweries? Where the shopkeepers seem to know all their customers by name.
“Where sometimes they’ll open up to help you when they’re already closed (cheers, Chris); and where a pub will even serve you a pint when you and your dogs are soaking wet and – more importantly – you’ve got no money (thank you Cotton Tree!).”
“I suppose it’s all about engagement. People in this part of the world will take the opportunity to stop and have a chat, when others might just walk on by.
“We actually stayed twice as long as originally planned. I couldn’t have found a nicer place to end my career with the corporation. Thank you, Macclesfield, you’ve been a great friend.”