A touching gesture by veteran broadcaster John Stapleton towards his former GMTV colleague Fiona Phillips has resurfaced following his death at the age of 79. Stapleton passed away on Monday from complications related to Parkinson's disease, which he revealed in October 2024.
The clip, shared on social media by Martin Frizell, Fiona's husband and former editor of This Morning, shows Stapleton and other GMTV presenters dressed as 1970s pop group The Osmonds. They sang 'Love Me For A Reason' to Phillips on her last day at the show in a surprise farewell. Frizell captioned the post: 'Here’s the proof that Stapes was a good sport with a great sense of humour.'
Stapleton had a distinguished career spanning over 50 years, covering major global events and hosting beloved TV programmes. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's in April 2024, with first symptoms including a tremor and a 'Joe Biden shuffle' appearing years earlier. His son Nick, a BBC presenter, encouraged him to go public to show others they were 'not alone.'
Stapleton died peacefully in hospital, with his son and daughter-in-law by his side. His agent confirmed the cause of death was pneumonia complicating his Parkinson's. Stapleton is remembered for his warmth, humour, and dedication to raising awareness of the condition.
