Veteran broadcaster John Stapleton has died at the age of 79, his agent confirmed. Stapleton, who had a career spanning over 50 years, passed away peacefully in hospital with his son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa by his side. His agent, Jackie Gill, said: “John had Parkinson’s disease, which was complicated by pneumonia.”
Stapleton revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in October 2024, joking that he had decided to 'come out' like comedian Billy Connolly. He told the podcast Movers and Shakers that he was diagnosed in April 2024, but his first symptoms appeared years earlier and were initially missed by doctors. He described a tremor in his hand that began about two to three years before the diagnosis, which a specialist initially dismissed as a benign essential tremor.
As his symptoms worsened, Stapleton sought further medical advice, leading to the Parkinson’s diagnosis. He also experienced difficulty swallowing, illegible handwriting, fatigue, and a loss of resonance in his voice. He worked with a speech therapist to project his voice. Stapleton noted that his mother had also battled Parkinson’s later in life, so the diagnosis did not come as a complete surprise.
Stapleton’s son Nick, a BBC presenter, encouraged him to go public with his condition. The pair appeared on BBC’s Morning Live in October 2024, where John expressed his determination to stay positive. Following his death, tributes poured in from colleagues, including Mark Austin, Charlotte Hawkins, and Martin Lewis, as well as his beloved Manchester City football club.
