Matthew Perry, Tina Turner, Sinead O Connor, Sir Bobby Charlton, Paul O Grady, Barry Humphries, Mohamed Al Fayed, Burt Bacharach, Jeff Beck, Jerry Springer, David Crosby, S Club 7 s Paul Cattermole, Martin Amis and Glenda Jackson were among the stars and notable figures who died in 2023.
At the ceremony Steve Rosenberg, the corporation s Russia Editor, performed a moving piano piece, which has been shared on social media to images and clips of the late broadcaster.
Proving life away from 24-hour news suits them were former BBC News anchors Dr Sian Williams, now a qualified Chartered NHS psychologist, and Natasha Kaplinsky, who works as a more general presenter.
Presenters including Mishal Husain, Mark Austin, Fiona Bruce and Sophie Raworth were in attendance for the service at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square.