FRIENDS, family and colleagues packed into a parish church to say their final farewells to North-East broadcasting legend Mike Neville today.

The presenter, who died at the age of 80, was the frontman on the BBC’s regional news programme Look North for three decades, before moving to Tyne Tees in 1996 to front up its North East Tonight programme.

He was known for his jokes and his easy-going manner, which made him an icon of regional television, leading to him being given an MBE for services to broadcasting, and a lifetime achievement award by the Royal Television Society.

His coffin, followed by family members, including wife Pam, was carried into St Mary’s Church in Whickham, Gateshead, to the playing of Mark Knofler’s song Going Home.

The Northern Echo:

Church Rector, The Reverend Barry Abbott, described Mike as an exceptional man who was known and loved across the region.

He said: “Mike gave a special perspective and expression to the talent and the potential of people of the region. He was one of our own.

“Mike had a wonderful ability – an ability to make us not just watch and listen to him, but to smile and laugh with him.

“He was there in my living room and thousands more every evening.

“He made us feel as if we were part of his family. And family was important to him, it was central.”

The Northern Echo: BBC Look North anchor Carol Malia attending the funeral

Paying tribute on behalf of the family, Geoff Mount said on the day he died Mike’s name was the highest trending topic on Twitter above Celebrity Masterchef – “something he would have loved”.

He added: “Away from the TV screen Mike was a family man and the family was very much at the centre of his life.

“Michael was genuinely interested in everything we were all doing in our lives. He encouraged, supported and was generous with his love.

“Pam and Mike were together for almost 60 years and would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in just two weeks time. It is something I know he was looking forward to. Behind every strong man is a strong woman and that is true of Pam.”

Among the mourners were were Brendan Foster, Sir John Hall, Pam Royle and Bob Moncur.

The Northern Echo: Sir John Hall, who spoke of Mike Neville's passion

Close friend, Sir John said after the service: “I remember him as a very sincere person.As a TV personality he was the voice of the region.

“People felt they could just believe what he said because it was Mike Neville.

“He worked hard at it and I think the region has lost a voice which was passionate. He was always there fighting for the region. And that is something we should never forget.”

Before going into broadcasting, Mike worked briefly at the Daily Mail in Newcastle, and then spent two years in Cyprus on National Service.

He spent time working at Newcastle’s Playhouse, then was recruited as a continuity announcer for Tyne Tees Television, which started life in 1959.

Within two years, he was reading the news at the BBC and went on to front Look North for 32 years.

There he carved a name for himself as the stalwart of North-East broadcasting, beamed into homes across the region every night and known for his sparkling wit and theatrical sense of fun.

In 1996, after half a lifetime at the BBC, he returned to Tyne Tees, to a programme which changed its name especially for him - North East Tonight with Mike Neville.

By 2006, after a bout of ill health and a major operation, he retired from our screens.