Tributes from the world of TV and journalism have poured in following the death of Dermot Murnaghan. It was announced earlier today that the broadcaster “died peacefully” at his north London home.
The 68-year-old former BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 News presenter campaigned for greater cancer screening after revealing his diagnosis last year.
Family Statement Confirms Peaceful Passing
In a statement posted on X, his family said: "It is with great sadness that the family of Dermot Murnaghan announces that he passed away at home in north London earlier this morning (July 11) at the age of 68 following a period of illness with prostate cancer. He died peacefully with his family at his side.
"The family wish to thank the medical teams who cared for Dermot with such sensitivity and extraordinary compassion throughout his illness.
"Also, for the many, many kind messages of goodwill that he received over the last year since his diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer and his subsequent campaigning to raise awareness for screening programmes for the disease.
"In accordance with his wishes, the funeral will be a small family ceremony. A memorial service for friends and colleagues will follow at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street (the Journalists’ Church) later this year.
"The family request that anyone wishing to remember him considers supporting Prostate Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer Research and North London Hospice so that others may benefit from the research and care he received."
Colleagues Pay Tribute to a Broadcasting Legend
Many of Dermot’s colleagues from the world of broadcasting have paid tribute to him. Former head of Sky News John Ryley, who worked with Murnaghan throughout his time at Sky, said the presenter was "absolutely the heart of Sky's ability to break news".
Ryley said: "He didn't say very much, but when he did chat, what he said was golden, insightful, and clear, and on the money. And what I really liked about him - which is why he was a good journalist - is he didn't like authority and he wasn't shy of showing it."
Sky News presenter Anna Botting, who worked alongside Murnaghan on events such as the Queen's funeral, said: "What Dermot brought to this craft of journalism was pinpoint accuracy.
"He was hugely conscientious - which brought out the detail of stories. And he was utterly fearless with politicians however erudite and articulate they were. He absolutely believed in holding authority to account."
Sky News political editor Beth Rigby said on X: "I am deeply saddened to hear Dermot has died. He was peerless in the presenter chair, as sharp as a tack, and hugely charismatic - always with a ready smile and a twinkly eye.
"I loved being on set, or in Downing Street, with Dermot because he was always in absolute command but so cool too. He made handling the most high pressure moments look effortless. It was my great privilege to sit alongside Dermot as he anchored Sky News’s 2019 Brexit election overnight show - a career highlight.
"It was devastating to learn about Dermot’s diagnosis last year. That he went onto became an ambassador for Prostate Cancer Research to raise awareness and funding for research, spoke to the man he was and only made me admire him even more. I was very fortunate to have worked with him and learnt from him. My deepest condolences to Dermot’s family."
Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy said: "What a sad loss so young. Dermot was a very fine journalist and presenter whose career spanned all the main British broadcasters.
"He was also very kind - I saw this as he became a supporter of @DuchenneUK cycling to Paris for us, recruiting colleagues and raising thousands of pounds as well as donating himself. Rest in Peace."
Lewis Goodall from The News Agents said: "When I started at Sky as a green young political correspondent, Dermot seemed like a broadcasting giant, because he was. He made it look so easy, when it wasn’t. Yet he was also the most unfailingly kind, generous and warm colleague- funny and graceful. Will never forget how encouraging he was. What a loss."
BBC correspondent Joe Pike said: "The kindest, wisest, wittiest colleague who, even when news was breaking and the TV gallery was in turmoil, kept that wonderful on-screen sparkle.
"He was a master presenter through UK and US election nights and royal deaths. And has anyone else anchored all 4 network’s (BBC, ITV, C4 and Sky) flagship shows? RIP Dermot. What a life."
Former Prime Minister Highlights Cancer Campaign Impact
Former Prime Minister Lord David Cameron, who was also diagnosed with prostate cancer, said the presenter's decision to speak out and highlight the importance of PSA testing - to check the level of prostate specific antigen in the blood - will have helped many other men.
He said: "I think it's really important that Dermot came out in the way that he did - as in his broadcasting life, he did it with incredible clarity and just simplicity.
"And as someone who was so well known to people through his broadcasting career over 40 years, it will have had a huge impact. He will have saved people's lives because people will have heard him say that, they would have thought, 'Okay I won't put off the PSA test, I'll go and ask for one, I'll ask my doctor'."
The BBC Breakfast account on X added: "Dermot Murnaghan was a legend on BBC Breakfast. The audience loved him. We loved him. It was wonderful to welcome him back to the red sofa just a few months ago. We laughed about his time on the show and we shared his crucial message on prostate cancer.
"Thank you Dermot for being part of our lives. We will miss you."
