British broadcaster David Frost has died: BBC

British broadcasting great David Frost has died of a heart attack aged 74, his family said in a statement Sunday.

Frost, celebrated for his interviews with former US president Richard Nixon, died Saturday on board the Queen Elizabeth cruise liner.

"His family are devastated and ask for privacy at this difficult time," the statement said.

"A family funeral will be held in the near future and details of a memorial service will be announced in due course."

Frost's lengthy 1977 interviews with Nixon saw him press the former president on the Watergate scandal.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said: "My heart goes out to David Frost's family. He could be -- and certainly was with me -- both a friend and a fearsome interviewer."