The scale of the shock at the brutal murder of Jill Dando reflects the impact she had on viewers' lives. She was hugely popular because she had mastered the difficult art of television presentation, making it look deceptively simple.

Trained as a journalist, Jill Dando branched out from news into other areas, making a success of each venture. She was equally at home in the Crimewatch studio or on a Caribbean beach for the BBC's Holiday programme.

Tributes from colleagues prove that she was as self-effacing and warm off screen as she was on. Her death is a terrible waste.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.