Good Morning Britain presenters have paid tribute to a long-serving cameraman who died after battling cancer.
Ranvir Singh and Richard Madeley remembered their colleague Donovan Parsons during today’s episode of the ITV breakfast show, with weather presenter Laura Tobin also sharing fond memories of working with him.
Mr Parsons worked with ITN for 25 years, filming stories alongside the programme’s presenters and crews.
Speaking on air, Singh said: “I just want to take a moment to pay tribute to a loving, wonderful member of our crew.
“Donovan Parsons, a long-standing cameraman, worked with ITN for 25 years.
“He worked on many, many, many stories with me when I was doing politics.”
A series of photographs showing Mr Parsons with members of the Good Morning Britain team was then displayed on screen as Singh revealed he had died that week following a battle with cancer.
She explained that producing the programme relied on the efforts of a wider team working behind the scenes, often in difficult conditions.
Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh remembered colleague Donovan Parsons on Thursday morning’s show
ITV
“When you work these ungodly hours overnight, in the middle of the night, sometimes in the freezing cold and the battling wind and rain,” she said, the team needed colleagues who could bring positivity to the job.
Singh described Mr Parsons as embodying “absolutely the best of what you need”, adding that the team really missed him.
Madeley also paid tribute to the cameraman, reflecting on the strong sense of teamwork he had experienced since joining the programme.
“One of the huge things that I’ve enjoyed so much about joining this programme is the team. It’s a proper team effort,” he said.
Donovan Parsons was a stalwart on Good Morning Britain
donnypcam/Instagram
“But, of course, in all teams there are always exceptional characters, and he was one.”
Tobin, who had worked with Mr Parsons on numerous occasions while reporting from locations around the country, became emotional as she recalled his warmth and enthusiasm.
“More than a cameraman, he was just an amazing friend to everybody as well,” she said.
Speaking on air, Ranvir Singh said: ‘I just want to take a moment to pay tribute to a loving, wonderful member of our crew’
Ranvir Singh/Instagram
She explained that Mr Parsons remained invested in the programme even when he was not working, watching from home and calling colleagues to offer feedback and encouragement.
Tobin also remembered his sense of humour, loyalty and passion for his work, describing him as a brilliant colleague who was always smiling.
“He even worked on his 50th birthday because he said he couldn’t think of a better place to be,” she said.
Paying tribute to his family, Tobin added: “So, to his wife and four children, we just want to send out love to them and say he was just a really lovely human being, and his smile lit up the room.”