His spokeswoman announced that Mr Whicker - whose distinguished TV career spanned nearly 60 years - died in the early hours of this morning after suffering from bronchial pneumonia.
The presenter and reporter, well known for Whicker's World, the documentary programme he presented from 1959 to 1990, died at home in Jersey.
He is survived by his partner Valerie Kleeman, with whom he has been for over 40 years.
She said: "He had a wonderful life and I was lucky to have shared it with him.
"A few years ago a poll asked who was the most envied man in the country - and Alan won by a country mile!"
She added: "He said that he didn't know where work ended and private life began. Quoting Noel Coward, he would say 'work is more fun than fun'.
"On this last journey he will arrive curious, fascinated, and ready for a new adventure".
Bafta, who awarded Whicker the Factual Personality Award in 1965 and the Richard Dimbleby Award for for Outstanding Presenter in the Factual Arena in 1978, tweeted today: "So sad to hear the news about Alan Whicker, who has passed away at the age of 87."
One of the most widely-travelled and popular broadcasters of his generation, Whicker sought out the eccentric, the ludicrous and the socially revealing aspects of everyday life from all over the globe.
Born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1925, he moved to England as a child and later served as a captain during the Second World War.
Joining the Army Film and Photo Unit in Italy in 1943, Whicker was one of the first of Allied forces to enter Milan. He also shot footage of Mussolini's body.
After the war he became a journalist and broadcaster, acting as a newspaper correspondent in the Korean War, during which he was mistakenly reported as having been killed.
He joined the BBC in 1957 and was a reporter for the famous Tonight programme. Soon after that he began Whicker's World, which over the years consistently claimed a place in the top 10 ratings.
His distinctive voice and delivery led to him regularly being parodied by, among others, the Monty Python team, and a jokey rap delivered Whicker-style, called Wikka Wrap, even made the top 20 in 1981.
On one occasion, while in America, he heard about an Alan Whicker impersonation contest. He entered and came third.
His final interview, with The Independent, can be read here: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/new ... 67728.html
Source: The Independent
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