Veteran broadcaster Alan Whicker dies aged 87

Alan Whicker receiving an MBE, who has died at the age of 87 after suffering from bronchial pneumonia. Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire

Veteran broadcaster Alan Whicker, known for his global travels during a distinguished TV career which stretched nearly 60 years, has died at the age of 87.

The presenter and reporter died in the early hours of today after suffering from bronchial pneumonia, his spokeswoman said today.

Whicker, who was probably best known for his Whicker's World TV series which he presented from 1959 to 1990, died at home in Jersey.

ITV News Correspondent Nina Nannar reports:

The documentary programmes famously brought a glimpse of the exotic jetset lifestyles of the rich and famous into UK homes. In 2009, he returned to some of the locations and people who featured over the years for a BBC series, Alan Whicker's Journey Of A Lifetime.

In this classic clip, Whicker takes a look at the music scene in San Francisco:

His distinctive voice and delivery led to him regularly being parodied by, among others, the Monty Python team, and a jokey rap delivered Whicker-style, called Wikka Wrap, even made the top 20 in 1981. He once entered a Whicker soundalike contest and managed to finish in third place.

Former Monty Python actor Michael Palin described Alan Whicker as "a great character, a great traveller and an excellent reporter".

Palin, who has taken up the mantle of travel documentary filmmaker from Whicker, added, "He was absolutely at the top of his game in front of the camera”.

Egypt-born Whicker had also been a war correspondent and, during his own service in the Second Word War, he was among the first group of Allied forces to enter Milan and he filmed footage of the body of Mussolini.

Whicker's partner, Valerie Kleeman, said:

Alan Whicker with his partner Valerie Kleeman in 2005, when he received his CBE. Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Tributes flooded in for Whicker after his death was announced. A BAFTA spokesperson said they were "so sad" to hear that two-times BAFTA winner Alan Whicker had passed away:

Here's a look back at his rise to fame:

  • Alan Donald Whicker was born in Cairo, Egypt, on August 2 1925

  • He moved to England as a young child after the death of his father

  • He attended Haberdashers' Aske's School

  • Whicker was was commissioned as an officer in the Devonshire Regiment during the Second World War, serving as a captain

  • After the war he became a journalist and broadcaster, acting as a newspaper correspondent in the Korean War

  • He joined the BBC in 1957 and was a reporter for the Tonight programme

  • He was probably best known for Whicker's World, his long-running documentary programme which he presented from 1959 to 1990

  • Whicker was awarded a CBE in the 2005 New Year Honours list for services to broadcasting