Ex-Today star Georgie Gardner's tribute to late coworker: 'Our friend'

Former Today show host, Georgie Gardner has paid tribute to a 'dear' Channel Nine coworker who recently passed away.

Georgie, who now presents Nine News Sydney, delivered a touching segment in remembrance of the program's veteran cameraman, Ilankovan Frank on Wednesday night.

"Pictures on the news each night aren't just plucked from thin air - they are the work of our camera operators," Georgie began.

"One of them, a dear workmate, known to us all here at Nine simply as 'Frank', has died," she added.

Footage Frank shot throughout his impressive career was showcased in a video, showing the intrepid cameraman on location in Southern Sudan, Vietnam and his home country of India.

It also featured photos of the man himself smiling big while posing with his cricket idols Brett Lee and Steve Smith.

"Like the Commonwealth Games, or a political visit, our reporters loved working with him. He helped us tell the stories no matter how tough the assignment," Georgie said.

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She revealed that Frank had experienced his own 'battles' and had returned to work to much fanfare after he recovered from a stroke.

Georgie concluded the tribute by saying: "Lovely moments we saw as he helped you see what was happening in our world".

Georgie abruptly left the Today show in late 2019 after a tumultuous 11-month stint at the helm alongside Deborah Knight.

The duo was instated in January 2019 following Karl Stefanovic’s shock axing but had received the boot by November to make room for Karl's return and the introduction of a new co-host, 60 Minutes reporter Allison Langdon.

At the time of her exit, Georgie said she was 'very proud' to have been one half of the first female hosting duo in Australian breakfast television.

She added that while her nine-year tenure with the program had ‘at times been cruel’ she was departing with 'fond memories' and planned to return to her 'first love', news.

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