BBC newsreader George Alagiah left wife and family miniscule sum of money in will

Late BBC newsreader George Alagiah left a small sum of money for his wife and family in his will when he died aged 67. The broadcaster's family received £49,000 from the star after he passed away on the 24 July, 2023 after a decade long battle with bowel cancer.

The will of the former News at Six presenter stated that George had £49,387 to his name on his time of passing. The will instructed that the money would be given to the sole executrix, which is his widow Frances Alagiah. The pair were married for 39 years and they have two sons Adam and Matthew.

He earned between £335,000 and £399,999, according to the BBC. The corporation released the salaries of its highest paid stars and these figures were published just a fortnight before his death. The will stated that if his wife were to pass before him, his sister Miriam Christine Denington to be guardian of his children, as reported by Needs To Know.

READ MORE: BBC newsreader George Alagiah's emotional final words read out at memorial service

George then went on to list his four sisters and sister in law as his trustees to have five equal shares of his estates. The former journalist and presenter also requested that his body be cremated.

The will of George Maxwell Aligiah stated: “I appoint my wife Frances Alagiah to be Sole Executrix of this my will but if she shall have died in my lifetime or before proving my Will or shall renounce probate or be unable or unwilling for whatever reason to prove my will the I appoint as alternate Executors and Trustees of my Will my sister-in-law Helen Robathan and my sister Miriam Christine Denington and I declare that the person or person who shall prove my will are hereinafter referred to as ‘my trustees’.

“My trustees shall have the power to invest as freely as if they were beneficially entitled. My trustees shall have the power to insure any asset of my estate on such terms as they think fit and to pay premiums out of income or capital.

"To use any insurance money received to restore the asset or if this is not possible to apply it as if it were the proceeds of its sale.

“My trustees may use the income or capital of my estate for or towards the cost of maintaining or improving freehold or leasehold property forming part of my estate.

"My trustees shall have the power in exercising the statutory power of appointing new trustees to appoint a professional person or trust corporation at such remuneration and on such other terms as shall be agreed.

“The Last Will and Testament of Maxwell Alagiah was proved and registered before the High Court of Justice. The Administration of George's estate is granted by this court to the following Executor of Frances Alagiah. The application has stated that the gross value of the estate in the United Kingdom amounts to £49,387.00 and the net value amounts to £49,387.00.”

The presenter was the face of BBC News at Six since 2007. George was diagnosed with bowel cancer nine years ago and underwent 17 rounds of chemotherapy and five operations to treat the disease in 2014, which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes.

The father-of-two returned to work in April last year following his treatment and credited his job with "keeping energised and motivated". But, just six months later in October of that year, he told viewers that he needed to take a step back, saying, "It's back to the tough stuff" after he was told that the disease had returned.

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