BBC Foreign correspondent Brian Hanrahan dies aged 61

December 20, 2010



The veteran BBC Foreign Affairs correspondent has died at the age of 61. His death, announced by the BBC on Monday morning, came just a few months after he was diagnosed with.

During his career with the BBC, Hanrahan had travelled almost the whole of the world, covering such news events as of the Indian Prime Minister,, the  in 1989, the , Beijing, and the coming to power of Mikhail Gorbachev and the subsequent rise of the "" era in Russia.

But it is for his coverage of the that Hanrahan will be best remembered, and his famous quote while on board an, watching  taking off and landing, that he "counted them all out, and I counted them all back."

In 2001, Hanrahan travelled to the United States to anchor a series of special programmes concerning the on the World Trade Centre.

Hanrahan also covered some of the more sombre events in recent British history, providing commentary and coverage with BBC News of the deaths and subsequent funerals of both, and , the Queen Mother.

Commenting upon the news, BBC Director General said: "Brian was a journalist of unimpeachable integrity and outstanding judgement, but his personal kindness and humanity also came through. That is why audiences and everyone who knew him here will miss him very much."

The Deputy Director General of Journalism at the BBC,, described Hanrahan as "one of the BBC's greatest journalists", adding: "His work covering the Falklands War produced some of the most memorable war reporting of the last 50 years. His great craft of using words sparingly but powerfully is a lasting memory for me. A beautiful writer, a beautiful man, whose passion for the BBC and for high standards in journalism inspired us all. All Brian's friends and colleagues across BBC News offer their sympathies to his family today and salute one of the giants of broadcast journalism."