BBC Breakfast's Dan Walker pays tribute as heroic guest who gave 'moving' interview dies

Dan Walker has been swift to pay tribute after the death of war veteran Harry Billinge who he remembered for giving a 'moving and memorable' interview on BBC Breakfast.

In the week that Dan announced he was quitting the show to move to Channel 5, the former Football Focus presenter and Strictly star took to Twitter to react to the news that Harry had died aged 96.

Cornwall born Harry was only 18 when he was a sapper attached to the 44 Royal Engineer Commandos ahead of the Normandy landings and was one of only four of his unit to survive the storming of Gold Beach on 6 June 1944.

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After his time in conflict, Harry, who was awarded an MBE in 2020, then spent 60 years the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal. The Legion offered their condolences to his family, in a statement which read: "Everyone at the Royal British Legion is incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Harry Billinge.

"He epitomised the spirit of our wartime generation and his dedication supporting veterans causes, including the Poppy Appeal, was nothing short of remarkable.

And BBC presenter Dan also honoured Harry. Sharing a clip of his interview about his long and memorable life, Dan wrote: "How sad to hear that D-Day veteran Harry Billinge has died at the age of 96. He gave one of the most moving and memorable interviews about friends he lost in battle & heroism. May he finally rest in peace."

In the clip, Harry tells host Naga Manchetty: "Don't thank me and say I'm a hero. I'm not hero. I was lucky, I'm here."

D-Day veteran Harry Billinge with his MBE for charitable fundraising, after he raised thousands of pounds for a national memorial to honour service personnel killed in Normandy (Getty Images)

Dan's followers also had fond memories of watching Harry, with one replying: "This is a hero not a footballer or movie star this was a true hero as well as being totally adorable you sir will see your fallen friends and they will be super proud of you. R.I.P."

A second commented: "Beautiful and deeply moving. We cherish our memories of these remarkable veterans, thank them for their sacrifices, and curse the division and hatred that caused the conflicts that they fought in."