Veteran journalist and broadcaster John Stapleton, one of the most recognisable faces on British television for more than five decades, has died at the age of 79. Stapleton, who had been living with Parkinson’s disease, passed away peacefully in hospital on Sunday morning, his family confirmed. His condition had recently been complicated by pneumonia.
A pioneering figure in television news and current affairs, Stapleton fronted some of the UK’s most prominent programmes, including Nationwide, Panorama, Newsnight, Watchdog, Good Morning Britain, and GMTV’s News Hour. He was also among the original presenters when Sky News launched in 1989, where he conducted high-profile interviews, including one with then–Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Tributes poured in from across the broadcasting world. Sky News’ Mark Austin described him as “a good man and top presenter who could turn his hand to anything.” Good Morning Britain’s Charlotte Hawkins praised him as a “brilliant broadcaster and a genuinely lovely man,” while co-presenter Susanna Reid remembered him as “a legend in broadcasting” who was always gracious and good-humoured. Longtime colleague Kate Garraway said she was “absolutely devastated” by the passing of her “dear friend and journalistic hero.”
BBC presenter Nicky Campbell recalled his years working alongside Stapleton on Central Weekend Live, calling him “a broadcasting giant” and “a steel hand in a velvet glove.” LBC’s Iain Dale also paid tribute, describing him as a “great interviewer” with a unique instinct for capturing the mood of the nation. Manchester City, the club Stapleton passionately supported throughout his life, also honoured him, noting that he was a regular presence at the Etihad Stadium.
Born in Oldham, Stapleton began his career in journalism at local newspapers in Greater Manchester before moving into television, where his ability to balance incisive questioning with warmth and humour made him a household name. Over the years, he covered major global events, including the Iraq War, for which he was named Royal Television Society Presenter of the Year in 2004.
Stapleton’s personal life was deeply intertwined with broadcasting. He was married to fellow journalist Lynn Faulds Wood, with whom he co-hosted Watchdog in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The couple became a familiar duo to millions of viewers. Wood died in 2020 following a stroke, a loss that deeply affected Stapleton. In recent years, he spoke candidly about his Parkinson’s diagnosis, a condition his mother had also endured, saying he tried to remain positive despite the challenges.
In a BBC interview last year, he admitted the illness had been frustrating, particularly as speaking had been his livelihood for decades. “What’s the point of not being positive?” he remarked. “You won’t meet anyone with a bad word to say about him,” his son Nick said in a heartfelt tribute. He described his father as “a very loving, unbelievably generous man” who lived life on his own terms and left without suffering.
With a career spanning over half a century, John Stapleton leaves behind a legacy of fearless journalism, compassion, and professionalism. He is remembered not only as a formidable interviewer but also as a kind, witty, and deeply respected figure in British broadcasting.
