GB News host Andrew Pierce has paid an emotional tribute to Patrick O'Flynn, following his death aged 59.
O'Flynn, who worked as political editor of the Daily Express from the 1990s to 2005, was elected as a Ukip MEP for the East of England in 2014.
O'Flynn regularly appeared on the People's Channel to commentate on political affairs and was a friend of GB News.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was among the first to issue a heartfelt statement following the news of his death, hailing him as a "great patriot".
Andrew Pierce paid heartfelt tribute to friend Patrick O'Flynn
GB News
Reflecting on O'Flynn's passing on GB News, Britain's Newsroom host Andrew Pierce said: "I knew Patrick about 20 years probably, at Westminster, he was just one of the nice guys.
"He did nothing in excess. He wasn't a big boozer or smoker, just very sad, really sad. Very shocking.
"I heard at the weekend he was ill, but I didn't know it was going to be so quick. So rest in peace, Patrick, and our thoughts to the family."
He added: "He was a great journalist, a proud out Eurosceptic Brexiteer, and he died far too young at only 59."
O'Flynn appeared on GB News several times as a commentator on current affairs
GB News
Recalling her meetings with O'Flynn, Bev agreed that he was "one of the nice guys", and was very much a "friend of the channel".
Bev said: "He was really nice. I only met him a few times in here in the studio, but he was very familiar with his work.
"He has a wife, Carole Ann, and a son and a daughter, so our thoughts and compassion go out to his family today."
Paying his own tribute to O'Flynn, GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope reflected on his extensive career and his diagnosis with cancer.
Andrew Pierce said he was 'shocked' by the news of O'Flynn's death
GB News
Christopher said: "He was well known to our viewers and listeners at GB news. We understand he went to the doctor feeling a bit ill a few weeks ago, was told he had advanced stage four liver cancer, was given weeks to live and died yesterday aged 59.
"He was, of course, was a columnist for the Express for 20 years. He was the Daily Express's political editor and wrote a really searing column of political analysis, and he then became a Ukip MEP."
Christopher concluded: "It's a great shock, a great reminder on all of us to look after our health, get checked by doctors when you need to and don't wait for it.
"But a huge shock here, he was a great thinker of the of the right and an important person to GB News viewers and listeners, and for our political system."
