BBC Breakfast was interrupted on Sunday for a devastating death update as former star Dermot Murnaghan died from prostate cancer. His colleague Nick Owen, who was diagnosed with the same disease in 2023, appeared on the programme to pay tribute and issue a frank warning about the importance of early detection.
Nick Owen's Warning on Prostate Cancer
Speaking on the show, Owen said: “I can only advise people to try and get in the system anyway. Once you get past 50, if you can, try and have regular tests via your GP. And if you’re in a family situation in which you have relatives who have or had prostate cancer, or Black families where anyone over 40 should be keeping tabs on it, it’s absolutely vital. I’m afraid Dermot is a perfect example – it was caught too late.”
He added: “If you catch it early, something can be done. It’s absolutely critical that people get in the system and be aware of this.”
Tribute to Dermot Murnaghan
Owen described Murnaghan as having “an enormous warmth, which I think is absolutely crucial for a broadcaster. He had this ability to connect with an audience, as opposed to just reading things out or saying things, it’s actually connecting with each individual, wherever they are in the country or the world. He had that ability.”
He continued: “He was always across his brief – when he was interviewing people, he really knew his stuff. He didn’t let them get away with it. He was forensic but not overly aggressive – he was subtle. He was just a perfect TV broadcaster as far as I’m concerned.”
BBC Breakfast's Official Tribute
The official BBC Breakfast X account posted: “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.”
