Veteran BBC journalist and presenter Edward Stourton has died at the age of 68, the broadcaster announced on Saturday. Stourton, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014, passed away surrounded by his family, according to a statement from the BBC.
Career Spanning More Than Four Decades
Stourton's journalism career lasted over 40 years, during which he presented the BBC One O'Clock News and helped launch Channel 4 News, becoming its first Washington correspondent in the latter years of the Reagan presidency. He joined the BBC as Paris correspondent in 1988 before returning to present the One O'Clock News on BBC One.
His BBC work also included programmes such as Panorama, Assignment, Correspondent, and a phone-in programme on Radio 4, Call Ed Stourton. He became a presenter of the flagship Today programme on BBC Radio 4 in 1999, where his extensive experience as a foreign correspondent proved valuable while reporting from countries such as Lebanon and Afghanistan. He was also one of the first correspondents to reach New York after the 9/11 terror attacks.
Battle with Cancer
In his 2023 memoir Confessions, Stourton revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer nearly a decade earlier. He underwent treatment but was later told the cancer had become incurable and spread. Despite his illness, he continued to work until very recently. In recent years, he presented Sunday, Radio 4's religious affairs show, as well as regularly hosting The World At One and The World This Weekend.
Tributes from Colleagues and Friends
Stourton's friend and former Today co-host James Naughtie paid tribute, saying: 'Stourton's warm intelligence and wit were admired and enjoyed by generations with whom he worked. And as a friend, he was always a rock of support and kindness. His dignity and courage through his illness were an inspiration to everyone who knew him. He was, simply, much-loved.'
BBC's interim news chief Jonathan Munro said it was 'far too soon to lose Ed' and added: 'I worked as his producer when he was ITN's diplomatic editor - unflappable then and ever after. Many years later, I was listening to his superb analysis of the new Pope for the BBC - another of his many areas of expertise. Not many broadcasters can present Today, BBC One's One O'clock News, The World at One and Sunday - but he did. He leaves a huge gap.'
Personal Life
Stourton, who had homes in south London and south-west France, is survived by his wife Fiona, a senior television producer, two sons, a daughter and a step-daughter.
