A special programme in honour of ITV Granada Reports presenter Tony Morris aired last night, filled with special memories and tributes to the journalist.
Tony Morris, who lived in Ramsbottom, died at the age of just 57 after being diagnosed with kidney cancer last year.
Mr Morris died on Saturday morning at Bury Hospice surrounded by his family - who have urged people not to send flowers, but to donate to the hospice where he was cared for by nurses with 'kindness and respect'.
Tributes to the screen favourite have poured in from viewers and colleagues alike, who 'had their tea with Tony' on the show - even until just a few months ago.
Last night at 6pm, ITV aired an emotional special programme for Mr Morris, charting his life-story 'from foster kid to award-wining newsreader'.
Chairing the special programme, longtime co-presenter Lucy Meacock broke down in tears as she spoke of her "very special bond” with Mr Morris, saying: "We leave you tonight with some of our happiest memories, some of the fun that we've all had behind the scenes.
"This is how Tony Morris - a truly remarkable and humble man - captured our hearts, why he meant so much to us and why, whatever the news, he always made us smile."
In the show, ITV correspondent Paul Crone paid tribute to his colleague, describing him as a “wicked, wicked sense of humour” who “never missed a trick”.
He said: “I can’t tell you how kind and caring he was. But you could get him to laugh way, way too easy.”
Members of the production team also remembered 'Mozza' and how he always made them feel "like the most important person in the room".
The programme shared how Mr Morris started life as "the only black kid on tough estate in Portsmouth" before joining the RAF.
He then made the transition to presenting and thrived, jumping from hosting a music show to becoming a fixture on BBC's North West Tonight.
In 2003, he made the move over to Granada, where he remained for 17 years.
The half-hour-long show featured some of Mr Morris' best work as a journalist, reporting from the front-line on land mine disposal in Cambodia and on the streets in Manchester in the wake of the Arena bombing.
The programme also showed off the presenter's love for sports and music - along with his renowned sense of humour, with clips of him joking with colleagues and making his interviewees laugh.
Shots of him on the scene reporting on the Whaley Bridge Dam and pressing Prime Ministers on the tough questions were interlaced with him dancing on screen.
Mr Morris was also praised for his charity work as a champion of the Anthony Walker Foundation, set up in Anthony's memory after his murder in 2005.
Anthony's mum Gee said Tony's "magnetic smile lit up the screen" during the special programme.
Among the viewers paying tribute was Manchester poet David Scott.
Mr Morris was regularly spotted watching David's band Argh Kid playing in live venues around the North West.
Dave, known as Argh Kid, performed a special composition in Tony's memory called Clocked Off, aired during the special programme.
Natalie and Rebecca Morris, the presenter's two daughters, shared a heartfelt tribute to their beloved dad on the programme, saying: "You all know him as 'the guy off the news' - but we know him as our dad.
"He was always so proud to be an adopted northerner.
"What you saw on TV every evening was exactly who he was - authentic and honest in everything he did, relentlessly funny, ferociously intelligent, endlessly kind - he lit up every room he walked in to.
"We know there will be a lot of people in the North West who are going to miss him - so we know we are not going through this alone."
His daughters and co-presenter urged those 'wanting to show they care' to donate to Bury Hospice.
If you missed the special programme last night, you can watch it in full here.
You can also sign the Book of Condolence to Tony Morris here.
