Veteran broadcaster John Stapleton has died in hospital at the age of 79, his agent has said.
Confirming his death on Sunday morning, Jackie Gill said: “John had Parkinson’s disease which was complicated by pneumonia. His son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have been constantly at his side and John died peacefully in hospital this morning.”
Mr Stapleton was best known for his work as a presenter and reporter on ITV breakfast television, as well as hosting Watchdog and Nationwide on the BBC.
The broadcaster, who is also known for presenting programmes including Newsnight, Panorama and GMTV’s News Hour, revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s in October 2024.
Parkinson’s is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Often, the disease can become more severe over time.
Speaking to The Mirror, Stapleton said: “You can’t escape these things as you grow older, these kinds of developments are sort of inevitable.
“You learn to live with it, get on with it and try to be as positive as you can,” he added.
Mr Stapleton was born on 24 February 1946 in Oldham, Lancashire, the son of a primary school teacher and the secretary of a local co-operative.
After leaving school in Manchester he started working as a trainee reporter at the defunct Eccles and Patricroft Journal, when just 17 years old.
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