Tony Morris dead: ITV Granada Reports presenter dies at 57 after battle with kidney cancer
The news anchor, best known for presenting ITV News' Granada Reports, has died at the age of 57 after battling kidney cancer - tributes have poured in for the much-loved presenter
ITV Granada Reports presenter Tony Morris has died.
The 57-year-old, who presented the broadcaster's regional news in the North West, died in hospital on Saturday.
He was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year.
His daughters Natalie and Rebecca were by his side in hospital.
Tributes have poured in for the much-loved journalist.
His co-presenter of 17 years Lucy Meacock said: "He was without doubt one of the most humble, kind and funny people I have ever met, and he would often make me laugh till my sides ached."
She added: "I am so very, very sad and my heart goes out to his daughters Nat and Becky. A smile from Tony Morris always brightened everyone's day and certainly brightened up the whole of the North West for 17 years."
Lucy went on to describe her former presenting partner as a "great observer of people and a great listener".
She said the traits made him a "wonderful interviewer and a first class journalist".
"He would always be respectful but would always coax the best interviews out of people and never shy away from a direct question," she added.
Tony broke down barriers during his career at Granada Reports.
He helped it become the first regional news programme to win a BAFTA thanks to his 2007 coverage, alongside Lucy, of the Morecambe Bay Cockle Picking tragedy.
They won the 2007 News Coverage award.
The programme won a second BAFTA in 2013 for its coverage of the Independent Panel into the Hillsborough Disaster.
Lucy West, head of news at Granada, said that a special programme will be broadcast at 6pm tonight to pay tribute to Tony and remember his amazing career.
She said: "Tony was a remarkable man; first and foremost he was an amazing dad to his two daughters and our thoughts are with his family.
"A brilliant presenter and journalist who could disarm the most challenging of guests. Tony led our viewers through some of the darkest of days, yet he was always able to offer some reassurance and warmth."
She added: "Tony lifted people, he was full of fun, wherever he was there was laughter and of course his incredible smile. He was loved by all, we as a team will miss him, the viewers will miss him. His passing leaves a huge gap in all of our lives and we will never forget him."
Tony grew up in Portsmouth, Hampshire, where he spent much of his childhood in foster care.
He joined the RAF after leaving school and told friends that growing up as the only black kid on a tough estate and joining the armed forces had taught him resilience.
Friends also said this had given Tony a great empathy and insight.
After leaving the RAF, Tony, a lifelong lover of music, began working at the BBC as a local radio trainee.
His TV career was launched when a newsreader was unable to get into the studio, and Tony, then a producer, stepped in to present the news at short notice.
He went on to report and present both regional and national news programmes for the BBC, before moving on to Granada in 2003, where he made an immediate impact with his colleagues and viewers.
Tony covered many big stories in his time at Granada, including the aftermath of the 2017 bombing at Manchester Arena and the publication of the Kirkup report into baby deaths at Furness General Hospital.
Tony also hosted some editions of Granada's From The North podcast.
And last year, he was shortlisted by the Royal Television Society in the Nations and Regions Presenter of the Year category.
Tony was also a busy man away from the newsroom. He was a diversity champion for ITV and worked closely with a number of charitable organisations to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Michael Jermey, director of news and current affairs at ITV, also paid tribute.
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