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Legendary broadcaster Brian Henderson has died aged 89 following a battle with cancer.

Henderson hosted the Sydney weeknight news for Nine from 1957 until his retirement in 2002, becoming Australia's longest-serving news presenter.

He also hosted Bandstand from 1958 until 1972.

TRIBUTES: 'A giant of Australian television'

Nine's Peter Overton said he had received a text from Henderson's long-time wife Mardi to say he had died at about 4.50am.

"She said that he was at peace when he passed away and he was surrounded, he had Mardi and beautiful daughters Jodie and Nicole," Overton said.

"I've spoken to them this morning and they are naturally as a family just gathered and sitting and reflecting on this man who had, may I say, a wicked sense of humour and was so engaged in the news right up to his passing."

Today host Karl Stefanovic said Henderson was "an absolute legend".

"A gentleman and a total professional who provided guidance and inspiration for so many colleagues and generations who followed," he said.

"We loved him."

Peter Costello, Chairman of Nine, paid tribute to Henderson's warmth, professionalism and legacy.

"Brian Henderson was the best of the best, he was iconic. The ultimate professional and the trusted face of television news for generations of Australians," said Mr Costello.

"Hendo was not just a much loved newsman, he also brought modern pop music to generations of Australian teenagers through his hosting role on Bandstand.

"He was trusted, he had a warmth that he brought into the living rooms of millions of Australians. He will be deeply missed but his giant legacy and contribution will live on in the DNA of Nine."

Darren Wick, Nine's Director of News and Current Affairs, said Henderson set the standard for the news team.

"Hendo was much loved and idolised by everyone of us lucky enough to have worked with him and learn from him," said Mr Wick.

"He was the biggest star in a 9News team that boasted the biggest names in journalism – Laurie Oakes, Liz Hayes, Georgie Gardner, Ken Sutcliffe, Peter Harvey, Robert Penfold, Peter Overton, Leila McKinnon, Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic.

"He was the epitome of credibility, reliability and clarity. He set the standard that we aspire to live up to every night of the week."

Henderson had two daughters, Jody and Nicole, with long-time wife Mardi.

Henderson also had two children from his first marriage.

He won two Gold Logies in his life, the first in 1968 as the host of Bandstand.

In 2013 he received a second, when he became the 30th member of the TV Week Logies Hall of Fame.

He was also made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2009 for his contributions to TV news, entertainment, and journalism.

Henderson survived multiple battles with cancer, before opting not to receive treatment for kidney cancer last year.

Overton interviewed Henderson not long after that diagnosis, and said he had not been scared of death.

"I asked him how he felt about death and he said that when he is on the other side and one day when I come over, we could catch up for a drink," Overton wrote.

'The Frank Sinatra of newsreaders.'

That was the tribute paid by Ken Sutcliffe to legendary broadcaster Brian 'Hendo' Henderson, who has died at the age of 89.

Friends and former colleagues have described him as a broadcaster without peer, whose name became synonymous with trust and professionalism over his distinguished decades-long career.

Henderson hosted the Sydney weeknight news for Nine from 1957 until his retirement in 2002, making him Australia's longest-serving news presenter.

Former sports journalist and TV presenter Ken Sutcliffe, who worked alongside his mate 'Hendo' for more than twenty years, has described him as "the Frank Sinatra of newsreaders".

"Sinatra was known for wonderful, impeccable diction and breath control. That's the way I saw Hendo" Sutcliffe told Today Extra.

READ MORE: Legendary broadcaster Brian Henderson dies, aged 89

But despite his warm and gentlemanly manners, Sutcliffe found him very intimidating to work alongside.

"He was the ultimate professional," he recalls.

"I just wanted to be as good as I could possibly be, but never quite matched up to the things he was capable of doing and did night after night. He was a perfectionist."

Sutcliffe affectionately recalled how he would drive a lot of the news producers "crazy" through his meticulous checking of every comma and every fact.

"He was not a trained journalist – I think that made him try even harder."

His current successor, Peter Overton, has described his long-time friend as "a great of Australian television" who became "part of the fabric of television".

"He was such a trusted voice and trusted man in our loungerooms every night."

It was a role he cherished, but he also had another string to his bow, Overton noting that his "wicked sense of humour" came to the fore as host of Bandstand from 1958 until 1972.

Overton noted that even as he grew frail, Henderson kept pace with the news and would often give him feedback on his performance during their regular catch-ups.

"We'd go and have cups of tea with him every few months," Overton said.

"He was right on the news. He had his notepad and would give us thoughts on how we were going – it was wonderful."

The TV icon passed away peacefully just before 5am this morning, surrounded by wife of decades Mardi and his two daughters, Jodie and Nicole, a month before his 90th birthday.

An emotional Overton described the last time he spoke with his friend back in May.

"I still remember it. I was walking the dog at the park, it was 11am in the morning and he rang me. He was not of the strongest voice, but said 'Pete, I will leave us one day' and he said to me 'I'd love you to say something at my service'."

"So I'll sit in that chair tonight and I'll think of Brian… we'll all think of him."

'The best of the best'

Peter Costello, Chairman of Nine, paid tribute to Henderson's warmth, professionalism and legacy.

"Brian Henderson was the best of the best, he was iconic. The ultimate professional and the trusted face of television news for generations of Australians," said Mr Costello.

"Hendo was not just a much-loved newsman, he also brought modern pop music to generations of Australian teenagers through his hosting role on Bandstand.

"He was trusted, he had a warmth that he brought into the living rooms of millions of Australians. He will be deeply missed but his giant legacy and contribution will live on in the DNA of Nine."

Darren Wick, Nine's Director of News and Current Affairs, said Henderson set the standard for the news team.

"Hendo was much loved and idolised by every one of us lucky enough to have worked with him and learn from him," said Mr Wick.

"He was the biggest star in a 9News team that boasted the biggest names in journalism – Laurie Oakes, Liz Hayes, Georgie Gardner, Ken Sutcliffe, Peter Harvey, Robert Penfold, Peter Overton, Leila McKinnon, Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic."

He was the epitome of credibility, reliability and clarity. He set the standard that we aspire to live up every night of the week."

'The way it is'

Not only a great himself, Henderson played a seminal role in kicking off the career of many young aspiring journalists.

2GB Drive host Jim Wilson took to Twitter this morning to pay tribute to "a giant of the industry", who he affectionately described as his former "taskmaster" when he first started work at Nine News Sydney.

"Best thing that ever happened to me professionally. Thanks Hendo," he wrote.

While a giant on television, former colleagues and friends described a different man off-camera.

"Credible, reliable and reassuring on-air, away from the cameras Brian was humble and engaging with a great sense of humour," long-standing news presenter and former colleague Peter Hitchener said.

"Brian Henderson made a huge contribution to our industry."

https://twitter.com/phitchener9/status/1423076816743321602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Singer and Today Extra co-host David Campbell's tribute was simple: "a legendary broadcaster and true gentleman".

Many described Henderson's iconic sign-off – "that's the way it is" – as etched into their memories, a symbol of his trusted voice in news.

Nine reporter Damian Ryan described him simply as "a man of perfection".

ABC News Radio presenter Laura Tchilinguirian wrote "legend of news broadcasting is gone".

"Growing up Brian told me so."

Entertainment reporter Peter Ford described him as "by every account a charming and classy bloke".

It's a legacy that will live on in the national memory and through his successors, but in the words of Peter Overton, "it's a mantle that will never be surpassed".

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Shanae Edwards was on the phone to a friend at the time of the alleged attack in Georgia.

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