BBC news anchor George Alagiah has talked about his coronavirus diagnosis,saying if he 'can live with cancer, he can live with Covid-19'.

Alagiah was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014 and again in 2017. The 64 year-old said recently he was taking a break from his job due to cancer treatment.

He tweeted a few weeks ago: "Absolutely gutted. After talking to colleagues and doctors I’ve decided to stay away from the newsroom.  

"I’m on a few weeks cancer treatment break at the moment but, on a balance of risks, we all decided I must heed the advice for those with underlying health issues."

He spoke to his BBC co-worker Sophie Rayworth about his recent battle with coronavirus and has said having cancer has made him 'strong'.

"I don't want to trivialise because I seem to have had a mild dose, but actually, the very fact that we (cancer patients) are living with cancer I think gives us an edge.

"We've confronted those difficult, dark moments in our life.

"And in some ways, I think that we, those of us living with cancer, are stronger because we kind of know what it is like to go into something where the outcomes are uncertain.

"And I certainly feel that having had that experience, in my case six years as a cancer patient, I went into this feeling actually quite strong, if I can live with cancer, I can certainly live with COVID-19."

His wife, Fran, has also displayed symptoms.

"She's been through it a little bit and it's kind of lasted a bit longer. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for how this plays out in individuals.

"I don't want to make light of it, because right now, Sophie, you and I both know there are people out there who are really finding this tricky, families going through a very anxious time."