“Good Morning Greece”: Mourning and Emotion for Giorgos Papadakis – The Show’s Editor-in-Chief in Tears

The first broadcast of “Good Morning Greece” in 2026 began in a heavy atmosphere of mourning, as the presenters and executives honored Giorgos Papadakis, who passed away yesterday, January 4.

No other program has been as closely identified with Giorgos Papadakis over the decades as *“Good Morning Greece.” He shaped and firmly established the morning news slot on Greek television.

The veteran journalist stepped down from hosting duties in the summer of 2025, handing over the reins to Panagiotis Stathis and Anna Livathinou. They bid him farewell on air, as footage from Papadakis’ long and distinguished career was broadcast.

“I find it inconceivable that the moment has come to say goodbye to Papadakis from the air of this program. This man is an entire chapter of history; he belongs to the constellation of myth in Greek journalism. He will always be with us for what he was,” Panagiotis Stathis said, among other remarks.

In the same spirit, his co-host Anna Livathinou spoke of the man who established the morning news zone, noting that he taught them, with passion, how to do their job.

The Farewell of the Show’s Editor-in-Chief, Anny Zioga, Through Sobs

The program’s editor-in-chief, Anny Zioga, went on air from the newsroom and spoke tearfully about Giorgos Papadakis, his personality, professionalism, and their relationship.

They worked side by side for 34 years, and he referred to her as his fourth child.

“Today is one of those moments when the voice feels heavy and words struggle to come out. Because it was not just a journalist who left us; it was a person who was part of my life. Giorgos Papadakis was not only a supervisor, nor just the man everyone knew from television. He was a companion on the journey for 34 whole years. With him, I learned what responsibility means. Giorgos was demanding but deeply fair. He was a man of passion, of soul, of instinct—he stepped forward and paid the price. Today, I feel that a great chapter of my life is closing. A voice that woke us up every morning has fallen silent. A voice that forced us not to settle. Such voices do not fade. I want to say a big thank you to the man who trusted me. Today, I am saying goodbye to a person of my life.”

Statements by Maria Anastasopoulou

Maria Anastasopoulou, who had co-hosted with Giorgos Papadakis, also spoke on the program:

“I want to say ‘Good Morning Greece,’ but today I can’t bring myself to. I feel very strange speaking on the program while Giorgos is not here. Those of us who worked with him remember how much he cared about the news, about truth, and about people who were wronged. We worked endless hours together. He took care of everything that went on air down to the smallest detail. He spent countless hours in the office out of deep belief in what we were doing.”

“He was the epitome of society’s interlocutor. Throughout the program, he constantly paid attention to the messages sent by viewers. He read every message and every comment. We all grew up with Giorgos’ voice calling out every morning, ‘Good Morning Greece.’ Today, the alarm clock is switched off after 34 years,” she added.

“When I found myself next to him, with the ‘Good Morning Greece’ logo above us, I felt the weight of it. He shaped people without even realizing it. He didn’t fully grasp what he was—we had to remind him. A few months ago, we gathered for him to announce his departure from the show, and that’s when I realized that all of us, too, had become part of that moment,” she noted.

At this point, Panagiotis Stathis added: “Saying ‘Good Morning Greece’ in general is difficult for me when I think that Giorgos Papadakis used to say it every single day.”

Maria Anastasopoulou concluded: “I’m sure that if he could see us now, he would tell us to change the subject and talk about current affairs.”

Statement by ANT1 President Theodoros Kyriakou

“Giorgos Papadakis was an invaluable partner, a man of integrity, consistency, and deep love for journalism. He served his profession with clarity, responsibility, and respect for the viewer, remaining steadfast in his principles throughout his career.

Above all, he was a very good person and a devoted family man, with humanity and kindness. His loss leaves a great void. I bid him farewell with respect and sincere gratitude. My thoughts are with his family.”

Announcement by the ANT1 Group

“With deep sorrow, the ANT1 family bids farewell to its beloved and historic member, Giorgos Papadakis.

Giorgos Papadakis was an integral part of ANT1’s identity and history. He left his personal mark, as both a person and a journalist, not only on the network and Greek television as a whole, but on society itself. He served news and information with consistency, integrity, and authenticity.

For all of us at ANT1, he was a point of reference. For 37 years, he defined morning news coverage and shaped the way Greek television ‘converses’ with citizens. His journalistic voice and ethics became a benchmark for generations of viewers, as well as for all of us who had the honor of working with him.

His journalistic journey on Greek television began in the early 1980s. In 1991, thanks to his fruitful collaboration with the late Minos Kyriakou, the morning news slot was created, leading to the birth of the historic program ‘Good Morning Greece.’ Beyond being a milestone in news broadcasting, the show became a breeding ground for journalists and executives who later excelled in their careers. Even after stepping down from the program on July 4, 2025, Giorgos Papadakis remained active, offering his knowledge and experience as a commentator on ANT1’s main evening news bulletin.

Giorgos Papadakis was not merely a presenter. He was a teacher and a conversational partner with responsible discourse, high journalistic ethics, and tireless work ethic.

His loss leaves an irreplaceable void both within the ANT1 family and in Greek television as a whole.

The President of the Antenna Group, Theodoros Kyriakou, and all ANT1 employees bid farewell with respect and gratitude to a man who aligned his personal journey with that of the network and left an indelible mark on Greek journalism. In these difficult hours, our thoughts are with his family and loved ones, to whom we extend our sincere and deepest condolences.

His legacy will remain alive forever.”