Former News at Ten newscaster Sandy Gall dies

The former ITN correspondent and journalist has died aged 97…

Sandy Gall was not just a journalist—he was a witness to history, a chronicler of conflict, and a compassionate advocate for those caught in its crossfire. Over a career spanning more than half a century, Gall brought the world closer to the truth with a rare blend of courage, integrity, and humanity.

Born in colonial Malaya and raised in Scotland, Gall’s early life seemed destined to transcend borders. That global sensibility would become the hallmark of his reporting. From the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of Afghanistan, he bore witness to some of the 20th century’s most harrowing conflicts, always striving to tell the story not just of nations at war, but of the ordinary people enduring extraordinary hardship.

Sandy began his media career as a sub‑editor at the Aberdeen Press & Journal (1952), then joined Reuters as a foreign correspondent (1953–1963). During this time he covered pivotal events like the Suez Crisis, Hungarian Revolution, Congo Crisis, and assignments across Africa, Europe, and South Africa. 

Central Television documentary: Sandy Gall reports in ‘Allah Against the Gunships’. Sandy rides on a mule in Afghanistan accompanied by Afghan Guerillas – the Mujahideen – who were fighting the Russians who had invaded their country in 1979 / Central 1984

Sandy joined ITN in 1963 as a foreign reporter and troubleshooter. In 1970 he became one of a rotation of News at Ten newscasters.

At ITN – the company behind ITV’s news programming – he became one of Britain’s most trusted foreign correspondents. Viewers relied on his calm, authoritative voice during the chaos of global events. But Gall never chased drama for spectacle; he chased truth. Whether reporting under arrest in Idi Amin’s Uganda or documenting the resistance against Soviet forces in Afghanistan, he risked his life, time and again, because he believed that stories of injustice needed to be told, no matter the cost.

But Sandy Gall was more than a reporter—he was a storyteller. His books, such as Behind Russian Lines and War Against the Taliban, offered readers a deep and often poignant insight into the worlds he reported from. And he remained committed long after the headlines faded. Through Sandy Gall’s Afghanistan Appeal, he brought tangible help to victims of landmines and war, offering prosthetics and care to those who had lost so much. For Sandy, journalism was never just about bearing witness—it was about making a difference.

Food round: Sandy appears on Channel 4 travel quiz ‘Where in the World’ / HTV 1984

His life was not without personal loss and quiet struggles, but his values remained steadfast. In the studio or on the front lines, he radiated a clear-eyed compassion. The honours he received—from a CBE to Pakistan’s Sitara-e-Pakistan—reflect the international recognition of his work, but his legacy lies just as powerfully in the lives he touched both on and off camera.

Sandy served as Rector of the University of Aberdeen (1978–1981) and after semi retiring in the early 1990s, and departing ITV, he later became a World Affairs Expert on LBC radio from 2003 onwards. He married Eleanor Smyth in 1958; they had four children, including journalist Carlotta Gall. Eleanor passed away in 2018.

As the world bids farewell to Sandy Gall at the age of 97, he leaves behind not only a remarkable archive of reporting, but a powerful example of what journalism at its best can be: fearless, principled, and profoundly human.

Sandy Gall – Henderson Alexander Gall - 1 Oct 1927 – 29 Jun 2025