BBC bosses pay tribute to 'talented young journalist' Hanna Yusuf who has died aged 27

ВBC bosses have paid tribute to a "talented young journalist" who died suddenly aged 27.

Hanna Yusuf was a reporter for the BBC News website and her recent work included an investigation into working conditions at Costa Coffee stores.

Miss Yusuf, who spoke six languages including Somali, Arabic and Dutch, was heralded as “one of our brightest stars” by the editorial director of BBC News Kamal Ahmed.

The Director of BBC News Fran Unsworth said the news has left staff "all deeply saddened,” adding: “Hanna Yusuf was a talented young journalist who was widely admired across the BBC and our utmost sympathies go to her family and many friends. Hanna will be much missed."

Born in Somalia in 1992, Miss Yusuf moved to the UK with her family after growing up in the Netherlands. She studied for her undergraduate degree in French and Spanish at Queen Mary University, before enrolling at City University of London to study for an MA in Newspaper Journalism as a recipient of The Guardian’s Scott Trust bursary, which provides financial support to young people who want to pursue a career in the media. 

In 2015, she made a video about her decision to wear the hijab, arguing that "it has nothing to do with oppression. It's a feminist statement.” After completing her journalism studies, she chose to stop wearing a headscarf. 

In 2017, she appeared on Good Morning Britain after European Court of Justice gave employers the power to ban all political, religious and philosophical symbols at work, telling TV presenters Piers Morgan and Susannah Reid that the ruling it would "disproportionately affect Muslim women".

Miss Yusuf then began working at the BBC as a researcher on the News at Six and Ten in May 2017, before moving to the BBC News Channel and News at One and the website. Prior to working for the broadcaster, she wrote for publications including The Times, The Muslim News and Grazia Magazine.

Her close friend and fellow BBC reporter Rianna Croxford paid tribute to her “work wife” on Twitter, writing: “There are no words right now to describe the pain of losing a best friend. Your beautiful smile, laugh and spirit. Your big heart. A rising star who will never be forgotten. You will always be loved and with us.”

The BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet said: “You left too soon a world where you shone such a bright light.” 

The statement from her family, who have not commented on how she died, said: “Hanna’s passing was sudden and unexpected and has come as a shock to us all. We kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this tragic time as we come to terms with our loss. We are grateful to everyone that has reached out to us with their kindness, love, compassion and support.

“Hanna was a dedicated young vibrant professional who became a bridge between the media and the community, helping break boundaries in providing a voice and representation.

“Many will know Hanna for her incredible contributions to journalism and for her work at the BBC. While we mourn her loss, we hope that Hanna’s legacy will serve as an inspiration and beacon to her fellow colleagues and to her community and her meaningful memory and the people she has touched for many years lives on.”