BBC presenter Amy Garcia was seen fighting back tears as she announced the sudden death of her former colleague Harry Gration during a live broadcast this evening.
Award-winning broadcaster Harry - best known for presenting BBC Yorkshire's Look North for almost 40 years - passed away today, aged 71.
The news has prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and viewers, with his former co-presenter Amy describing him as a "much loved friend" in a live broadcast.
Announcing the news this evening, she said: "I have some very sad news to share with you all. Our much loved friend and colleague Harry Gration very suddenly died today."
Amy - who had presented alongside Harry on the regional news programme - was visibly emotional as she spoke on camera, with her fighting back tears as her voice broke.
She said: "We all at Look North are absolutely devastated to give you this news." Amy said the show will pay tribute to Harry "properly" next week as it's "what he deserves."
The presenter concluded: "But tonight our hearts go our to Harry's wife Helen, their children and all of Harry's friends. I know that you will want to pay tribute to him as well."
Harry's wife, Helen, paid tribute, saying: "He will forever be with us. Our three boys and I loved Harry totally. We had an awful lot of fun with him and our home was his life."
Fans took to social media earlier to respond to the sad news, with one writing: "Sad to hear [the news]. He was a stalwart." Another wrote: "A true Legend. RIP"
Another tweeted in tribute: "So saddened to hear that Harry Gration has died. The only words to describe Harry - top bloke. Broadcasting in Yorkshire has lost a true gentleman."
"Yorkshire lost one of her greatest sons today," tweeted one person this evening. Another said: "He interviewed me on Look North a couple of years ago. Really nice fella."
Others expressed heartache over Amy sharing the news, with one viewer writing in response to footage from the live broadcast: "Absolutely broke my heart. I wanted to hug her."
Another said: "Poor Amy having to announce it live she was in bits." Whilst another person commented: "Very difficult to have to read that news out. We are thinking of you all."
Harry had joined the BBC in 1978 and later began working on Look North in 1982. He remained on the show for almost 40 years, with his final appearance broadcast in 2020.
According to the BBC, he won two Royal Television Society (RTS) awards for sports documentaries in his career and was twice the recipient of the RTS Best Presenter award.
