John Stapleton, the renowned presenter and journalist best known for his work on ITV's Good Morning Britain and BBC's Watchdog, has died at the age of 79. His agent confirmed that he passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, with complications from Parkinson's disease and pneumonia.
Stapleton enjoyed a career spanning nearly 50 years, reporting on major events including the war in Kosovo and four US elections. He was also one of the original presenters on Sky News. He revealed his Parkinson's diagnosis in October 2024, stating he refused to be 'miserable' and was 'learning to live with it.'
His son Nick, a broadcaster himself, had appeared on BBC's Morning Live just days before his father's death, expressing concern over a chest infection. Nick said: 'Unfortunately, Dad's got a bit of a chest infection, and that can be pretty nasty if you've got Parkinson's.'
Tributes have poured in from colleagues and fans. Mark Austin called him 'a good man and top presenter,' while Charlotte Hawkins described him as 'a brilliant broadcaster and a genuinely lovely man.' Martin Lewis expressed being 'greatly saddened' by the loss.
