Tributes paid to ITV presenter and Portsmouth FC fan Tony Morris
AN ITV presenter and life-long Portsmouth FC fan has died at the age of 57.
Tony Morris, who presented Granada Reports, died after at Bury Hospice on Saturday, his family has announced.
The presenter, perhaps best known for his deep, bellowing laugh, was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year.
Brought up in Stockheath Way in Leigh Park, Tony was a life-long Pompey fan. He went to Trosnant Infant and Junior School and St Luke’s Senior School.
Despite moving to the north west, went to as many of the Blues’ away games up north as he could.
Following his death, those who knew him have paid tribute to a legendary presenter and journalist.
Co-presenter Lucy Meacock said: ‘He was without doubt one of the most humble, kind and funny people I have ever met, and he would often make me laugh till my sides ached.
‘A smile from Tony Morris always brightened everyone's day and certainly brightened up the whole of the north west for 17 years.’
Isle of Man presenter Joshua Stokes, who trained as a journalist in Hampshire, added: ‘When I first arrived at Granada as an inexperienced nervous newcomer, Tony approached me, sat me down and spoke to me for 45 minutes just to get to know me.
‘It was the best intro anyone could have had and something that will always stay with me.
‘Today is a sad day, but tonight we remember him as the great man he was.’
A special tribute to Morris, who formerly presented on BBC's North West Tonight, was aired on Granada Reports yesterday evening.