BBC star dies as tributes flood in for 'highly respected' colleague

BBC cameraman John Williams has passed away, with tributes pouring in from his former colleagues to the "well-respected" worker. Pebble Mill's Facebook account officially broke the sad news on Sunday evening, in a post which read: "Hi, I've heard sad news from James French. John Williams, whom we knew was very ill, has sadly died. He will be much missed." John was a cameraman for the BBC who worked across a huge range of programmes from Pebble Mill studios in Birmingham. A touching photograph of John filming for the BBC drama Howards' Way was attached to the moving words, with his former colleagues and friends penning tributes to John.

Writing messages of condolence, one person shared: "Had no idea he was unwell. A dedicated and highly respected cameraman." A second added: "Oh how very sad . Such a lovely, highly talented, and respected colleague. I was only reading his very touching tribute to sound recordist John Gilbert the other day in Prospero. How ironic we are now paying tribute to John himself. Rest in peace and condolences to his family."

Another shared: "Such a very lovely man to work with and a great mentor to all." Meanwhile, a fourth penned: "I was forever in his debt. He was brilliant for helping me shoot my very first short film in early 90's."

John worked for the BBC for three decades and wrote about his experiences as a cameraman in the book "Shoot First, No Ordinary Life."

Addressing the book and sharing some insight into his time as a BBC employee, he wrote on Pebble Mill's website: "I like to think we were a family with all that entails, and that family still shows itself, meeting every month as pensioners support one another and reminisce on the good old days.

"My one hope is the BBC has not lost this family and is still there amongst my colleagues working in the brave new world."