Laura Woods was overcome with emotion while paying tribute to her former colleague Nigel Pearson live on air with talkSPORT on Monday afternoon.
News broke on Friday that Pearson had died at the age of 52 following a "sudden illness". Best known for his work while covering darts and Speedway, Pearson spent 15 years with Sky Sports as part of their darts team after joining in 2006. The BBC Radio Humberside reporter was also one of talkSPORT's first broadcasters following its inception in 1995.
Woods was talking in the wake of a montage of tributes and condolences from those close to Pearson when she said: "I knew Nigel from the age of, I think, 21 when I started at Sky. And just exactly what his friends and colleagues were saying there, you really became a friend to Nigel. If Nigel was around you or one of your colleagues, he wasn't just a friend, he was such a source of support and a real source of joy.
"And I really just wanted to echo all of that because for me, personally in my career as well, he was a champion of mine. And it's like Adrian [Durham] was saying there, you really need good people in the world, and he was so that."
Woods went on to explain how Pearson was "the first, I think, commentator and presenter that was just so accessible to everyone around him. Just a knowledgeable, wonderful, intelligent man."
Some of the biggest names in the world of darts took the time to send in their tributes in the wake of his death. Michael van Gerwen wrote: "Nigel could always make me laugh in post-match interviews." Another former World Champion in Phil 'The Power' Taylor added: "Sad, sad news about Nigel Pearson passing away. Always polite and a good guy."
Pearson's beloved football club West Bromwich Albion took to Twitter to pay their respects: "We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Nigel Pearson. An inspirational broadcaster. A huge Albion fan. A true friend.
"Our thoughts are with Nigel's family at this desperately sad time. We'll miss you so, so much Nige."
The Baggies' local rivals Wolves also tweeted: "Though his local allegiances were blue and white, Nigel has long been a friend of Wolves and will be greatly missed by all at Molineux."
