Good Morning Britain's Chief Correspondent Richard Gaisford delivered his final report for the show on Wednesday 24 December, ending a 25-year career with ITV. He first began reporting for breakfast television on February 14, 2000.
During his final broadcast, colleagues Charlotte Hawkins and Ed Balls paid tribute to the "exceptional journalist". Hawkins described him as a "much loved member of our team" who would be "very much missed". Balls thanked him on behalf of viewers for "finding truth, objectivity and telling all of us what's really going on with that extra special bit of analysis".
Signing off, Gaisford said: "It's been a privilege. I have had the best job in television news, and I've worked with the most incredible people. I will miss all of you immensely and wish you the best of luck with what happens next year. I'm out there looking for some new adventures."
Viewers shared well wishes on social media, and former host Piers Morgan praised Gaisford as "one of the all-time great morning TV correspondents" and "an incredibly classy guy".
Gaisford joined GMTV in 2000 as a correspondent and became Chief Correspondent six years later. He reported from Basra in 2003, covered the Indian Ocean tsunami, the death of Nelson Mandela, and the funeral of Pope John Paul II. He also travelled with Prince William and Kate on their first Royal Tour in 2011 and reported from Ukraine during the conflict with Russia.
