Cooke had said that he was retiring at the beginning of March on the advice of doctors. He was a legend in the world of broadcasting for his Radio 4 bulletin, which started in 1946 and ran every week for more than 2,500 shows, making it the longest-running radio programme in the world. Cooke missed only three broadcasts during that time.
Senior figures at the BBC paid their respects to Cooke this morning. Acting director-general Mark Byford said: "Alistair Cooke was one of the greatest broadcasters ever in the history of the BBC -- an outstanding commentator of the 20th century.
"His insight, wisdom and unique ability to craft words enabled millions of listeners in the UK and around the world to understand the texture of the US and its people. All of us at the BBC are saddened today."
Jenny Abramsky, director of BBC Radio, also paid tribute, saying he would be greatly missed.
"With his superb voice and masterly turn of phrase, Alistair Cooke was the most brilliant radio chronicler of his age. His contribution to BBC Radio over decades was unmatched. Above all his relationship with his listeners was unique," she said.
Cooke was born in Manchester in November 1908 and attended Cambridge, where he took first-class honours in English at Jesus College. He spent two years in the US before returning home to become a film critic for the BBC.
In 1937 he returned to the US where he began his lifetime career of reporting on American life. He hosted an American programme called 'Omnibus' in 1952 and 20 years later presented a 13-hour television series called 'America: A Personal History of the United States'.
This was later turned into a bestselling book, republished in 2001, one of many that he wrote about America and Americans.
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