Newsreader Peter Sissons dies aged 77
2 October 2019, 13:37
Former BBC and ITN newsreader Peter Sissons has died at the age of 77.
Mr Sissons, whose broadcasting career spanned more than 40 years, died on Tuesday while surrounded by family, his agent said in a statement.
"We are sad to announce that Peter Sissons, the former presenter on ITN, Channel 4 and the BBC, died peacefully last night in Maidstone Hospital, Kent.
"His wife and three children were with him and wish to pass on their thanks to the hospital staff who were so caring and fought gallantly to save him to the end."
The veteran newsreader joined 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.
His first role as a news anchor came several years later when he began presenting ITN's News At One.
Sissons joined the BBC in 1989 as presenter of Question Time, as well as joint presenter of the Six O'Clock News.
He moved to the Nine O'Clock News in 1994 and stayed with the programme until it moved to its new time of 10pm.
He retired from broadcasting in 2009 and was considered at the time to be one of the UK's longest-serving news presenters.
BBC journalist Simon McCoy was among those paying tribute, writing on Twitter: "Very sorry to hear of the death of former colleague Peter Sissons. A great journalist and a fine presenter at ITN and the BBC. #RIP"
A statement from Knight Ayton management said: "We are sad to announce that Peter Sissons, the former presenter on ITN, Channel 4 and the BBC, died peacefully last night in Maidstone Hospital, Kent.
"His wife and three children were with him and wish to pass on their thanks to the hospital staff who were so caring and fought gallantly to save him to the end."
Piers Morgan paid tribute to Sissons in a tweet describing him as an "excellent journalist & TV newsreader, and splendidly combative & amusing man".
BBC director general Tony Hall said in a statement: "Peter Sissons was one of the great television figures of his time - as an interviewer, presenter and world-class journalist.
"During his distinguished career he was one of the most recognisable and well-respected faces of television news.
"He was always a great person to be with and to work with. He will be missed by his many friends and colleagues, and our thoughts are with his family."
