BBC Newsday presenter Julian Keane dies following long illness

BBC presenter and journalist Julian Keane has died aged 57 after a long illness.

Keane worked for the World Service for more than 25 years and presented Newsday since the programme launched in 2012.

In the tribute to Keane from his BBC colleagues he has been described as being a "warm, calm and surefooted presence" in the studio.

It reads: "Our dear colleague and Newsday presenter Julian Keane has died after a long illness.

"Many listeners will have been familiar with his voice on the World Service for more than a quarter of a century, initially on the BBC’s French Service, then on Europe Today, The World Today and The Newsroom.

"Most recently, Julian presented Newsday, since the programme's launch in 2012.

"As well as being a warm, calm and surefooted presence in the studio, Julian also presented the programme from a long list of countries, often finding himself in the middle of some of the biggest news stories we've covered.

"By way of a tribute, this clip features Julian reporting in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the run-up to elections, in Venezuela as the full scale of the economic crisis began to emerge, and in the Central African Republic at the height of the violence between rival militias.

"It begins in Zimbabwe as the 37 year rule of Robert Mugabe had came to and end."

World Service's Bola Mosuro also shared a tribute, writing on Twitter: "Feeling such sadness & loss. Being with Julian in the studio flowed from day one. It didn't feel like work. I'll miss my brother's warmth, friendship, humour & his fantastic journalism. RIP Julian."

While another colleague, Jackie Leonard, shared: "Such sad news. Julian was a brilliant broadcaster and a genuinely lovely man. We will miss him. #JulianKeane."

"The best of the best of the @bbcworldservice is gone. Julian Keane was hands down the most lovely person to work with. Generous, kind, measured and unbiased by the book. A real brother who found joy in lifting others. A very special man, truly a legend. Adieu, maestro," shared BBC journalist Kriszta Satori.