BBC newsreader George Alagiah leaves £49,000 to his wife and family following his death aged 67 after nine-year battle with bowel cancer

• The former News at Six presenter sadly passed away on July 24 last year 
• The will instructs that the money will be given to his widow Frances Alagiah 

Late BBC newsreader George Alagiah has left £49,000 to his wife and family in his will.

The former News at Six presenter sadly passed away on July 24 last year at age 67, after a decade long battle with bowel cancer.

Alagiah’s will stated that the broadcaster had £49,387 to his name on his time of passing.

The will instructs that the money will be given to the sole executrix, which is his widow Frances Alagiah. The pair were married for 39 years and have two sons called Adam and Matthew.

According to the BBC, Alagiah – who also presented the News at Ten – earned between £335,000 and £399,999 a year. 

The broadcaster published the salaries of its highest paid stars just a fortnight before the journalist’s death.

The will states that if his wife were to die before him, his sister Miriam Christine Denington would become the guardian of his children.

Alagiah then goes on to list his four sisters and sister in law as his trustees to have five equal shares of his estates. The former presenter also requested that his body be cremated.

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The will of George Maxwell Aligiah states: ‘I appoint my wife Frances Alagiah to be Sole Executrix of this my will but if she shall have died in my lifetime or before proving my Will or shall renounce probate or be unable or unwilling for whatever reason to prove my will then I appoint as alternate Executors and Trustees of my Will my sister-in-law Helen Robathan and my sister Miriam Christine Denington and I declare that the person or persons who shall prove my will are hereinafter referred to as “my trustees”.

‘My trustees shall have the power to invest as freely as if they were beneficially entitled.

‘My trustees shall have the power to insure any asset of my estate on such terms as they think fit and to pay premiums out of income or capital.

‘To use any insurance money received to restore the asset or if this is not possible to apply it as if it were the proceeds of its sale.

‘My trustees may use the income or capital of my estate for or towards the cost of maintaining or improving freehold or leasehold property forming part of my estate.

‘My trustees shall have the power in exercising the statutory power of appointing new trustees to appoint a professional person or trust corporation at such remuneration and on such other terms as shall be agreed.

‘The Last Will and Testament of Maxwell Alagiah was proved and registered before the High Court of Justice.

‘The Administration of George’s estate is granted by this court to the following Executor of Frances Alagiah.

‘The application has stated that the gross value of the estate in the United Kingdom amounts to £49,387.00 and the net value amounts to £49,387.00.’

The widely respected broadcaster – who joined the BBC in 1989 and had been the face of News At Six since 2007 – passed away ‘peacefully’ surrounded by his family.

Back in July last year, BBC director general Tim Davie led tributes today, hailing him as ‘one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation’. 

Alagiah was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in April 2014 before finishing treatment in October 2015 and returning to screens a month later. 

His health was back in the headlines in March 2020 when he tested positive for Covid. 

Alagiah returned to presenting duties in April 2022 until August before departing again in October after revealing that the cancer had spread to his lungs and lymph nodes.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie said at the time of Alagiah’s death: ‘Across the BBC, we are all incredibly sad to hear the news about George. We are thinking of his family at this time.

‘George was one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation who reported fearlessly from across the world as well as presenting the news flawlessly.

‘He was more than just an outstanding journalist, audiences could sense his kindness, empathy and wonderful humanity. He was loved by all and we will miss him enormously.’