Sir David Frost the veteran broadcaster died at 74 years of age following a suspected heart attack he suffered while on a cruise ship.

A statement released by the family said he was giving a speech on Saturday while aboard the Queen Elizabeth.

The career for Sir David spanned comedy writing, daytime TV presenting and journalism. Internationally he might be best remembered for the interviews he had with former President of the United States Richard Nixon.

Another statement said the family was devastated and asked for their privacy during this most difficult time. The statement concluded by saying in the near future a family funeral would be head and details of the memorial service would be announced.

Barney Jones from the BBC was an editor on the Breakfast with Frost show for over 10 years and said that Frost had loved broadcasting as he did it brilliantly for over 50 years. Frost was said to be looking forward to upcoming events including an interview next week with the British Prime Minister.

David Cameron the British Prime Minister said that Sir David had charm, talent, wit, intelligence, warmth and was an extraordinary man.

Frost was born in Kent and studied at Cambridge. It was there where he was the Footlights Club secretary and met future greats in comedy like Graham Chapman, John Bird and Peter Cook.

Frost was well known for his opening phrase “hello, good evening and welcome.”

Frost once had an interview that could only be described as terse with Margaret Thatcher the then prime minister of Britain over the Falklands conflict.

In his series of interviews with former president Nixon, Frost was able get Nixon to come close to apologizing for the Watergate break-in and subsequent scandal that caused him to resign.