Veteran broadcaster John Stapleton dies at the age of 79

Veteran broadcaster John Stapleton has died at the age of 79, his agent has told the PA news agency.

Stapleton, who presented on programmes including the BBC’s Watchdog and GMTV’s News Hour, died in hospital on Sunday morning.

His agent, Jackie Gill, said: “John had Parkinson’s disease, which was complicated by pneumonia.

“His son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have been constantly at his side and John died peacefully in hospital this morning.”

Good Morning Britain (GMB) presenter Charlotte Hawkins said Stapleton, who had presented on the ITV show, was a “brilliant broadcaster” and a “genuinely lovely man”.

Responding to the news in a post on X, Hawkins wrote: “So sad to hear John Stapleton – our ‘Stapes’ has died.

“He was such a brilliant broadcaster and I loved working with him on GMB.

“A genuinely lovely man, it was good to see him when he came in just a few months ago to talk about his Parkinson’s diagnosis. He’ll be much missed.”

Former LBC Radio host Sangita Myska said Stapleton was “the epitome of collegiate behaviour” and “a great journalist, role model and gentleman”.

In a post on X, Myska added: “Incredibly sad news that the veteran journalist and broadcaster John Stapleton has passed away. I watched him on TV when I was growing up with admiration.

“One day, out of the blue, he sent me a very kind message about my reporting. I was absolutely chuffed! We continued to message from time to time over the years. He was always quick with praise and wisdom.”

She added: “Rest in Peace, John. Thank you for being a great journalist, role model and gentleman. I know you’ll be reunited with your wonderful wife Lynn. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.”

Elsewhere, GMB co-creator Erron Gordon said Stapleton’s “versatility was unmatched”.

In a post on X, he wrote: “John Stapleton was one of the very best presenters I directed at GMTV and GMB.

“His versatility was unmatched, and he had an innate ability to navigate any challenge from breaking news to technical hiccups, whether in the studio or on location, he was brilliant.

“Each Christmas, he and Penny Smith would bring the crew presents, showing just how much he cared about the team. He was truly one of the good guys. Rest in peace, Stapes.”

Caroline Rassell, chief executive at Parkinson’s UK, said in a social media post: “We are so sad to hear of the death of John Stapleton. A wonderful man and broadcaster, his was a voice and face that so many of us have known for decades.”

Stapleton was also a big fan of Manchester City, who said they were “saddened to learn” of his death in a post to X.

Stapleton revealed his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease in October 2024.

Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he said: “There’s no point in being miserable… It won’t ever change.

“I mean, Parkinson’s is here with me now for the rest of my life. Best I can do is try and control it and take the advice of all the experts.”

Later, in a segment on Morning Live, Stapleton challenged himself to learn to sing for BBC Children In Need and said he was told that singing could help with his symptoms, especially his tremors.

Born in Oldham in 1946, Stapleton began his career in newspapers before presenting BBC’s Panorama and Newsnight, where he reported from trouble spots in the Middle East, El Salvador and Argentina during the Falklands War during the early 1980s.

He also presented GMB, before returning to the BBC in 1986 to to present consumer show Watchdog alongside his wife Lynn Faulds Wood until 1993.

In the 1990s, he presented ITV discussion show The Time, The Place, which he presented until 1998, the year he began hosting GMTV’s The News Hour with Penny Smith.

In 2010, Stapleton became special correspondent for Daybreak, which replaced GMTV, and also served as a presenter at times.

He continued on GMB when it replaced Daybreak, before leaving the show in 2015.

Stapleton met his wife in 1971 and the pair wed in 1977 and were married for 43 years before she died at the of 72 in 2020 after suffering a stroke.

The couple shared one child, Nick Stapleton, who appears on BBC One’s Scam Interceptors.