ITV Calendar and YTV legend Rick Pickard has died, with his colleagues taking to social media to issue a heartfelt tribute to the late cameraman

An ITV star has died. ITV Calendar anchor Christine Talbot shared the sad news that cameraman Rick Pickard had died as she posted a string of heartwarming snaps of her late colleague.

The camera operator, lovingly known as Uncle Rick, notably covered some of the most significant stories over the past 50 years, including the miners’ strikes and the Hillsborough disaster.
Taking to Instagram, the 56-year-old presenter shared a selection of behind-the-scenes photographs, particularly featuring his crew over the years and with one cherished interviewee, Hannah Hauxwell, the legendary First Woman of the Dales. She wrote: “We said goodbye this week to one of the kindest and nicest men I ever worked with in TV.

Christine Talbot paid tribute to Rick Pickard
“Rick Pickard had an incredible career as a cameraman on YTV and ITV, covering the biggest stories, from being called in late at night to film the now iconic studio interview with Don Revie and Brian Clough, to the miners’ strikes and Hillsborough, and so much more.

“He came with me to film the legendary First Woman of the Dales, Hannah Hauxwell, and we took these photos on the moors near her home. She loved him and always asked if he’d be coming again each time we filmed.

“He went on to a senior management role at Calendar, but even after he retired, he was often back with us behind the camera. He loved the job.”

Beyond celebrating his professional achievements, the ITV Calendar host disclosed that he was a gifted young footballer who’d been snapped up by Sheffield Wednesday Under 21s during his youth.

She shared: “Rick was a modest man, we learned at his funeral that he had signed for Sheffield Wednesday Under 21’s as a youngster until he broke his leg playing in a YTV football match! He was also an ace cricketer! He never told us [smiling emoji].

Christine Talbot met up with Rick and his family two weeks before his d3ath
“A special personal memory too, Rick was so kind to me when my Dad died, I’ll never forget his gentleness, he treated me like his own daughter when I came back to work [heart emoji].

“He was like a dad to us all, although we called him ‘Uncle Rock’ (or his other nickname ‘Jean Luc’ as in the Star Trek character (cry-laughing emoji). The huge turnout of old and current faces from ITV Calendar at his funeral yesterday demonstrated how loved he was, though, as his family said, he’d have hated the attention.”

The mum-of-one disclosed that the final photograph in her collection of images with her former colleague was captured just a fortnight before his passing. She explained: “The last photo here was taken just a few weeks before Rick died when a few of us met up with him, his lovely wife Jane, and daughter Sarah.

“It was a special day reminiscing and laughing about all sorts of old stories, and we planned more meet-ups in the New Year. Sadly, that was not to be. Goodbye to Rick Pickard, a YTV legend and a genuinely good man.”

Fans quickly flooded the comments section with their condolences, with one person posting: “Beautiful words for a true gentleman in every sense.”

Another commented: “Sounds like an amazing career covering so much at YTV. My condolences to his family and friends, including his YTV colleagues. RIP Rick.”

A third added: “A well-deserved & personal tribute, Christine, & thank you for sharing your very fond memories of Rick & how he was one of the team members who made ITV Calendar the best news programs on TV [applause emojis].”