Newsreader Ian ‘Roscoe’ Ross passes away after battle with pancreatic cancer
Respected newsreader and journalist Ian ‘Roscoe’ Ross has died, aged 73, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Ross was a much beloved Sydney newsreader who helped the Seven network achieve ratings success in the early 2000s when he came out of retirement to join as its Sydney newsreader.
He has previously had a 38-year career with the Nine Network in a variety of roles including on Nine News and the Today show.
This morning tributes have flown in for the journalist from both of his former employers and colleagues, as well as on social media which has been filled with a stream of condolence messages for the well known newsreader who presented Seven’s news bulletin from 2004 to 2009.
Director of Seven News, Sydney, Chris Willis, paid tribute to Ross: “We all loved Roscoe. He was the consummate newsman and a wonderful human being. He had incredibly high professional standards and could be a tough task master. He led our news brilliantly in the time he was here.
“He was also great fun to work with. He was serious about his job, but didn’t take himself too seriously and frequently entertained the newsroom with jokes at his own expense. We will all treasure our memories of Roscoe.”
Nine’s CEO David Gyngell also paid tribute to the newsreader.
“The Nine and Seven networks and the whole television industry have lost one of our best and bravest in the sad passing of Ian Ross,” said Gyngell.
“Rosscoe is the good guy who always finished first. That he was universally loved by his peers in as tough and competitive an industry as television news says it all. What’s more, his wide audience also thought the world of him.
“Ian was a lovely man – warm, generous, hilarious, a great, loyal friend to all his colleagues and the ultimate professional. He will be sadly missed. I extend our deepest condolences to Ian’s family and his partner Gray.”
Earlier this year Ross announced he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer which had spread to his liver.
It is understood Ross died in a Gold Coast hospital last night.
You can watch Seven’s tribute video from when Ross stepped down as Sydney newsreader below:
Nine has also posted a video tribute from his time with the network:
Very sad. Vale Mr Ross.
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