Dermot Murnaghan Passes Away at 68
TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan has died, a year after publicly revealing his diagnosis of stage four prostate cancer.
The former journalist, known for his work with BBC, ITV, and , was 68 years old.
His family released a statement on his X account, saying:
"It is with great sadness that the family of Dermot Murnaghan announces that he passed away at home in North London earlier this morning. He died peacefully with his family at his side."
Career Highlights
Murnaghan was a prominent figure on British television news for five decades. He presented major programmes such as the ITV Evening News and the at Six and Ten.
From September 2002 to December 2007, he was a main presenter of BBC Breakfast. He also hosted the quiz show Eggheads.
Health and Advocacy
When Murnaghan disclosed his cancer diagnosis last summer, he stated that he was "responding positively" to treatment and "feeling well".
He became a vocal advocate encouraging men to undergo testing for prostate cancer. He emphasized the importance of early detection and routine screening.
"Needless to say my message to all men over 50, in high risk groups, or displaying symptoms, is get yourself tested and campaign for routine prostate screening by the NHS," he said.
"Early detection is crucial. And be aware, this disease can sometimes progress rapidly without obvious symptoms."
His family expressed gratitude to the public for their support, stating:
"The family thanks the public for the many, many kind messages of goodwill that he received over the last year since his diagnosis of Stage IV prostate cancer and his subsequent campaigning to raise awareness for screening programmes for the disease."
Professional Background
Murnaghan began his career at News before moving to ITV, where he presented shows including The Big Story and the News at 10 from 1993 to 1997. He also fronted ITV's Evening News and Nightly News between 1999 and 2001.
In 2002, he joined the BBC as one of the main hosts of BBC Breakfast, the Six O'Clock News, and the Ten O'Clock News.
He hosted Eggheads for 11 years starting in 2003 and was a familiar face on from 2007 until 2023.
Additionally, Murnaghan presented documentaries such as Crimes That Shook Britain for Channel 5 and Killer Britain for the Crime + Investigation UK channel.
Later in his career, he launched the podcast Legends of News, where he interviewed experienced journalists and correspondents about significant stories they had covered.
Related Coverage
For more information, see the story: TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan reveals stage four cancer.
