Tributes have been paid across the television industry to John Stapleton, the veteran presenter of Newsnight, Watchdog and GMTV's News Hour, who has died at the age of 79. His agent, Jackie Gill, confirmed that Stapleton had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2024 and died peacefully in hospital on Sunday, with his son Nick and daughter-in-law Lise at his side.
Stapleton's former GMTV co-presenter Kate Garraway described him as a 'rock solid broadcaster and the ultimate gentleman', while Susanna Reid called him a 'legend' and 'consummate pro'. Charlotte Hawkins said he was a 'brilliant broadcaster' and a 'genuinely lovely man'. His son Nick posted on Instagram that his father had wanted to 'leave us on his terms, without suffering'.
Born in Oldham, Stapleton began his career as a trainee reporter in the north-west before moving to television on BBC's Nationwide and Newsnight. He became a household name presenting Watchdog from 1985 to 1993 alongside his wife Lynn Faulds Wood, who died in 2020. The programme was known for exposing shoddy workmanship and illegal practices.
In 2002, Stapleton was interviewed by police after showing cannabis on GMTV, despite stating it would be destroyed. He also co-presented a controversial 1997 Carlton Television debate on the monarchy, which drew criticism from Sir Robin Day but was defended by the channel's head of factual programmes.
A lifelong Manchester City fan, Stapleton told his son after watching City win the Champions League that he would 'die happy'. After revealing his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2024, he said on BBC One's Morning Live: 'There's no point in being miserable... It won't ever change. Best I can do is try and control it.'
