Veteran broadcaster John Stapleton, 79, dies ‘peacefully’

Veteran broadcaster John Stapleton has died at the age of 79 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his agent has said.

The presenter, who featured widely on programmes including the BBC’s Watchdog and GMTV’s News Hour and began his career at the Oldham Chronicle, died in hospital on Sunday morning.

His condition was complicated by pneumonia, his agent said.

Jackie Gill said “his son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have been constantly at his side and John died peacefully in hospital”.

A range of tributes have been paid to Stapleton, including form Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins, who described him as a “brilliant broadcaster” and a “genuinely lovely man”.

Newsreader Mark Austin said his death was “incredibly sad”.

“A good man and top presenter who could turn his hand to anything. Best wishes to his family,” he said.

Stapleton revealed his diagnosis in television interviews 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.”

Stapleton presented BBC’s Watchdog with his wife Lynn from 1985 to 1993.