Veteran broadcaster John Stapleton, 79, dies ‘peacefully’

Veteran broadcaster John Stapleton has died on the age of 79 after being recognized with Parkinson’s illness, his agent has mentioned.

The presenter, who featured broadly on programmes together with the BBC’s Watchdog and GMTV’s Information Hour and commenced his profession on the Oldham Chronicle, died in hospital on Sunday morning.

His situation was difficult by pneumonia, his agent mentioned.

Jackie Gill mentioned “his son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have been consistently at his aspect and John died peacefully in hospital”.

A variety of tributes have been paid to Stapleton, together with kind Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins, who described him as a “good broadcaster”.

She mentioned: “A genuinely beautiful man, it was good to see him when he got here in just some months in the past to speak about his Parkinson’s analysis.

“He’ll be a lot missed.”

Newsreader Mark Austin mentioned his loss of life was “extremely unhappy”.

“A great man and high presenter who may flip his hand to something. Finest needs to his household,” he mentioned.

Good Morning Britain co-creator Erron Gordon mentioned Stapleton’s “versatility was unmatched”.

In a publish on X, Mr Gordon wrote: “He had an innate means to navigate any problem from breaking information to technical hiccups, whether or not within the studio or on location he was good.

“Every Christmas he and Penny Smith would deliver the crew presents, displaying simply how a lot he cared concerning the crew. He was really one of many good guys. Relaxation in peace, Stapes.”

Born in Oldham, Better Manchester, Stapleton introduced Watchdog along with his spouse Lynn from 1985 to 1993.

He revealed his analysis in tv interviews in October 2024.

Showing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he mentioned: “There is no level in being depressing. It will not ever change.

“I imply, Parkinson’s is right here with me now for the remainder of my life. Finest I can do is attempt to management it and take the recommendation of all of the specialists.”