Colleagues of Dr Michael Mosley have led tributes hailing the late TV broadcaster, producer and columnist, as a 'national treasure' and a 'kind and gentle man'.
The 67-year-old TV personality was with friends at Agios Nikolaos beach on the Greek island of Symi on Wednesday before going missing during a walk by himself to the centre of the island.
His wife Clare Bailey Mosley confirmed a body found on Sunday morning in a rocky area near Agia Marina beach was her husband, describing the loss as 'devastating'.
READ MORE 'I don’t know where to begin' - Michael Mosley's wife speaks out after devastating news
Mimi Spencer, who co-authored The Fast Diet with Dr Mosley, paid tribute to him as 'immediately likeable, genuinely funny' and said she will 'miss him terribly'.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, she said: “In person he was very much the sort of figure that you would see on television: immediately likeable, genuinely funny, enthusiastic, he had this innate enthusiasm about life and he was always very generous with his time.
“He had a brilliant line in tangential anecdote which comes out of his broadcasting as well, that his mind would go down rabbit holes and come out with fantastic snippets of information, and talking to him in person was much like that, you never quite knew where you were going to arrive, but the journey was always fascinating.”
Dr Saleyha Ahsan, Dr Mosley’s co-presenter on Trust Me, I’m A Doctor, described him as 'a national treasure' who put her at ease during her first audition for the BBC series.
Speaking to BBC News, Ahsan said: “Michael’s a national treasure and he’s so personable.”
She also praised his 'passion for explaining science to a wider audience', adding: “Making it accessible to anyone and everyone, not just a niche scientific crowd, but to everyone.”
Academic and broadcaster Alice Roberts shared three pictures on social media with Mosley, with whom she first worked on her 2009 TV series Human Journey.
Prof Roberts said the 'fragility of life is so shocking' as she recalled working with him and seeing him at the Hay Festival two weeks ago, adding: “I can’t believe he’s gone. My thoughts are with his bereaved family.”
The Hay Festival shared black and white photos of Dr Mosley taken during his appearance of the literature and arts festival last month.
Organisers of the annual event in Hay-on-Wye wrote on X: “It was a privilege to share his work on our stages. Our thoughts go to his family, friends and colleagues.”
Celebrity chef and healthy eating campaigner Jamie Oliver praised the work Mosley had done for public health with his broadcasting and research, writing on Instagram: “What a wonderfully sweet, kind and gentle man he was. He did such a lot of good for public health with his TV shows and research.
“He was a curious investigator, producer and presenter and often changed the conversation around many public health issues for the better.”
As Tom Watson, the former deputy leader of the Labour Party, described Mosley, as a 'hero'. “It’s hard to describe how upset I am by this news,” Mr Watson said on social media.
“Through courageous, science-based journalism, Michael Mosley has helped thousands of people get well and healthy. I’m one of them. He was a hero to me. He will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
This Morning said staff at the ITV programme were 'heartbroken' to learn that Mosley, a regular contributor, had died.
In a post on X, the show added: “Everyone at This Morning is thinking of Clare, their four children and the rest of Michael’s family and friends at this extremely sad time.”
