Carol Barnes 1944-2008

Former ITN Presenter Carol Barnes has died.

The 63-year-old news presenter died at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Doctors had feared the worst since she was admitted to hospital last Sunday after suffering a stroke.

She started her career as a teacher before moving into public relations and journalism, joining ITN as a reporter in 1976.

Carol recently presented Saving Ed Mitchell on ITV1, a programme about her former colleague’s descent into alcoholism.

Alistair Stewart said: “Barnsey was a rare creature, as capable on location as she was in the studio. Her public face was that of the polished professional. Privately she was just a lovely, generous and delightful person.

“Despite all that life threw at her, she remained great fun to be with. We shall miss her very much indeed.”

Stewart Purvis, former ITN CEO said: “It is a very sad day for friends, colleagues and viewers.

“She was friends with us, she was friends with the viewers, she was friends with everybody.”

Dermot Murnaghan said: “She couldn’t have been kinder, more helpful and caring to someone like me.

“I was in awe of the mighty Carol Barnes and she was just so down to earth, so helpful but, above all, so professional.”

Simon Bucks, Associate Editor of Sky News said “She had a wonderful, self-deprecating, throwaway sense of humour and an earthy, throaty giggle when she found something funny, which she often did.

“Barnsey will be missed by her family, her friends and her colleagues – and by the millions of television viewers who knew her only through the small screen.” more from simon

Ed Mitchell said “It’s very, very upsetting news. She was a good friend and a good colleague over some 20 years.

“She was extremely sympathetic to my problems at the time of the documentary. She was willing me to succeed. It’s just so awful to learn that she isn’t now here.”