Magnus Magnusson, the former presenter of the BBC quiz programme Mastermind, has died at the age of 77.

The Icelandic-born broadcaster, perhaps best known for his "I've started so I'll finish" catchphrase, had been diagnosed with cancer last October.

Magnusson grew up in Scotland, his family having moved to Edinburgh when he was 1 year old. After graduating from Oxford he started a career in journalism and eventually joined the BBC where he presented Mastermind for over two decades. His daughter Sally Magnusson now reports for BBC Scotland on political matters.

"For millions of viewers of viewers Magnus Magnusson was one of the defining faces and voices of the BBC," the BBC director-general Mark Thompson said in a statement. "To the contestants of Mastermind, he was a tough but always fair question-master, but behind this screen persona there was a family man of tremendous warmth and humanity.

"All our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time, and everyone at the BBC will share their tremendous sense of loss."