Clive Myrie connected with George Alagiah over race during their time at BBC News.
Clive Myrie (right) remembers George Alagiah
The 58-year-old journalist now fronts BBC shows like 'Mastermind' but recalled a time when he and late fellow newsreader George - who passed away last week at the age of 67 following a battle with cancer - felt "grateful" to be employed by the broadcaster and remembered how his tragic co-star fought for them to have equal pay.
Writing for HELLO Magazine, Clive said: "As people of colour in an overwhelmingly white newsroom we would gravitate towards each other. We'd share stories about our lives and work, and what it meant to both our families, who were immigrants to Britain long ago, that their sons worked for the mighty BBC. In 2017, when the pay figures of the Corporation’s highest stars were revealed, it was clear that neither George or myself, were anywhere near the top, despite all his success.0
"I remember speaking to him about the controversy at the time, and he said throughout his career, he’d never been aggressive in pursuing pay rises. I said I’d been exactly the same. It was because we both felt gratitude deep down, that the BBC was willing to employ people like us. We were lucky to have wonderful careers, no matter the pay. "
Clive went on to reflect that the broadcaster "had a problem attracting and retaining ethnic minority staff" and acknowledged that numbers have "improved" but is still ongoing.
He added: "Nevertheless it was clear the BBC had a problem attracting and retaining ethnic minority staff, and in the years after the pay row, George, myself and fellow presenters Reeta Chakrabarti and Mishal Hussein, decided to join together to lobby the then Director General, Tony Hall, and his successor, Tim Davey, on how best to improve ethnic minority numbers in the newsroom. That work is ongoing, but George won’t be leading us. A kind and gentle light has been dimmed in our newsroom. Journalism has lost a giant."
The 'BBC News at Six' host had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2014 and he underwent 17 rounds of chemotherapy to treat the disease. In October 2015 he announced that his treatment was over and returned to BBC One on November 10.
In 2017, the cancer returned and in 2020 the journalist revealed that it had spread to his lungs, liver and lymph nodes.
As his illness worsened, in October 2021, Alagiah made the decision to step down from his presenting duties.
His agent Mary Greenham confirmed his death in a statement, in which she sent her heartfelt condolences to his wife Frances Robathan and their two children, Adam and Matthew.
The statement read: "I am so terribly sorry to inform you that George Alagiah died peacefully today, surrounded by his family and loved ones.
“George fought until the bitter end but sadly that battle ended earlier today.
“George was deeply loved by everybody who knew him, whether it was a friend, a colleague or a member of the public. He simply was a wonderful human being.
“My thoughts are with Fran, the boys and his wider family."