Kate Garraway has led tributes to broadcaster John Stapleston who has died aged 79 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.
John, who presented on programmes including Newsnight, Panorama and GMTV’s News Hour during a remarkable TV career which spanned nearly five decades, passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning.
His agent, Jackie Gill, confirmed his passing this morning and shared a statement that read: ‘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.’
As the news broke, John’s celebrity friends paid tribute to the TV star.
His former colleague Kate took to Instagram to share an old picture of the duo presenting GMTV.
Kate Garraway has led tributes to broadcaster John Stapleston who has died aged 79
As the news broke, John’s celebrity friends paid tribute to the TV star. Kate took to Instagram to share an old picture of him presenting GMTV
Alongside the post, she penned: Absolutely devastated to hear of the passing of my dear friend and journalistic hero John Stapleston.’
‘Rock solid broadcaster and the ultimate gentleman. His experience stretched back to when he was a cub reporter on the Yorkshire Post.
‘On his first day alone in the office, he took a call from the police to say that they were starting to dredge the moors looking for what they feared were the bodies of murdered children. He found himself less than an hour later at the scene of one of our nation’s most horrific crimes.
‘Others will pay testimony to his incredible career better than I, and I hope they do but all I can say is he was most generous co partner, always lifting who was along side him up , never crushing or ramming that he knew better ( which he did!) down their throat, never taking over and always always fair , truthful and honourable. Huge fun too – no one told a story down the pub better than John.
‘We will not see his like again . Thinking of his son Nick and all who knew and loved him’
GMB star Susanna Reid also took to X, formerly known as Twitter to pay her respects to the ‘broadcasting legend’.
She penned: ‘So so sad to hear of John Stapleton’s death. He was a legend in broadcasting, the consummate pro and always good-humoured and gracious to work with. A huge part of GMB’s story and television history. Sending love to John’s family.’
Former colleague and fellow broadcaster Nicky Campbell also shared a picture of John from his prime and wrote: ‘I feel so sad. I worked with John Stapleton on Central Weekend Live for many years.
Charlotte Hawkins also took to Instagram with a photo alongside John as they starred alongside each other on GMB as well as a heartfelt tribute
Many other faces in the world of TV, such as Susanna Reid and Nicky Campbell, have also taken to social media to share a tribute of their own
‘He was a good friend, a kind, wise and very funny man and he was a broadcasting giant. Effortless, relaxed and incisive. A steel hand in a velvet glove. My condolences to all who loved him. There are many. Rest in peace my friend.’
Charlotte Hawkins also took to Instagram with a photo alongside John as they starred alongside each other on GMB as well as a heartfelt tribute.
She wrote: ‘So very sad to hear John Stapleton – our ‘Stapes’ has died. I loved working with him on GMB, he was a legend and such a brilliant broadcaster.
‘A genuinely lovely man, it was good to have a catch up with him when he came in a few months ago to talk about his Parkinson’s diagnosis. He’ll be much missed’
Martin Lewis took to X to share his tribute to the ‘gent’ as he also worked with him over the years in consumer journalism.
He penned: ‘Saddened to hear the great John Stapleton has passed away, he and his late wife Lynn were brilliant pioneers of consumer journalism, laying the ground for people like me. Thank you both.
‘I had the pleasure of working with John on various incarnations of itv breakfast. Always a gent and when he found out I’m from a Man City background too, that was it, you couldn’t stop him on the subject. City was his great passion. My condolences to his family and loved ones’
Gaby Roslin took to Instagram with a picture of John and shared that he was a ‘good, kind, caring man’.
In the post she penned: ‘John Stapleton was a good, kind, caring man. My love and thoughts are with his family. John has a proper twinkle in his eye.’
GB News’s Michelle Dewberry took to X to also share her respects as she wrote: ‘They don’t ’em like that anymore… Sad news today. R.I.P a good man – John Stapleton’.
Last year, the former Good Morning Britain presenter revealed his devastating battle with Parkinson’s in an emotional interview on BBC One’s Morning Live.
‘Speaking is how I’ve earned my living for the best part of 50 years,’ he said last October.
‘It’s very frustrating sometimes, particularly (when) people are constantly saying to you ‘Sorry, what did you say?’ And you have to repeat yourself, time and time again.
‘I am fairly pragmatic about the prospect of this getting worse. I try to remain positive, because what’s the point of not being?’
John Stapleton with his wife Lynn Faulds Wood and their son Nick
The veteran broadcaster had previously revealed how both his grandmother and mother battled with the same disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, with symptoms including tremors and slow movement.
Born in Oldham in 1946, Stapleton began his career in newspapers before presenting BBC’s Panorama and Newsnight, where he reported from trouble spots in the Middle East, El Salvador and Argentina during the Falklands War.
He also presented Good Morning Britain, before returning to the BBC in 1986 to to present consumer show Watchdog alongside his wife Lynn Faulds Wood until 1993.
