Had no clue who the fellow was, read the story and thought to myself "how terribly sad given all the circumstances" but also thought "what a good opportunity for the BBC to gently introduce a topic that young children will likely have to deal with".

As someone else mentioned, the gentle manner in which this was handled is wholly appropriate. Astute parents of young children who likeed the presenter might even use it as a way to ask their children how they feel about these topics and get a read on where they are with the entire concept. That knowledge might come in handy if Grandpa our their favorite auntie is ill or quite aged and likely to die soon.

I know that may sound heartless but children can be helped along with the understanding of death without getting all dramatic about it. Better to let them ask their questions about a non-family member who was familiar to the them than wait to handle those questions when you yourself are disruaght and feel tempted to invoke lofty euphamisms they may not grasp about heaven or that awful bit about "HGod picks the prettiest flowers for his bouquet." Whomever came up with that last gem needs a bop on the head if you ask me. A child of 5 that I knew who was told this refused to wear her nice dresses for months out of fear that God would kill her because she looked pretty and then she'd never see her parents again!

IMHO- Some parents need to make up things to be concerned about as if there aren't enough already!