The 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.
“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.”
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”
Piers Morgan also paid tribute in a tweet describing Mr Sissons as an ”excellent journalist & TV newsreader, and splendidly combative & amusing man”.
Mr Sissons was a familiar face for decades as a newsreader.
He 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.
Mr 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.
Mr Sissons retired from broadcasting in 2009 to write his autobiography, When One Door Closes, which was highly critical of his former employer the BBC.
