Veteran British TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan has died at the age of 68, a year after publicly revealing his diagnosis with stage four prostate cancer. His family confirmed he passed away peacefully at his North London home earlier this morning, with his loved ones by his side.
A familiar face on British television news for five decades, Murnaghan was a prominent journalist for BBC, ITV, and Sky News. He presented flagship programmes including the ITV Evening News and the BBC News at Six and Ten, and was also known for hosting the popular quiz show Eggheads.
Last summer, when he disclosed his cancer diagnosis, Murnaghan stated he was “responding positively” to treatment and “feeling well.” Following his diagnosis, he became a vocal advocate for men to undergo testing for the condition. He urged, “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. Early detection is crucial. And be aware, this disease can sometimes progress rapidly without obvious symptoms.”
His family extended their gratitude to the public for the “many, many kind messages of goodwill” he received over the past year since his diagnosis and his subsequent efforts to raise awareness for screening programmes. The article noted that common prostate cancer symptoms can include increased urination frequency, particularly at night; difficulty starting urination, a weak flow, and prolonged urination; and blood in urine or semen. However, it also highlighted that the disease can remain without obvious signs or symptoms for years.
Murnaghan’s extensive career began in local newspapers before he moved to Channel 4 News. He fronted several ITV programmes, including The Big Story and the News at 10 from 1993 to 1997, and the channel’s Evening News and Nightly News between 1999 and 2001. In 2002, he joined the BBC, becoming one of the main hosts for BBC Breakfast, the Six O’Clock News, and the Ten O’Clock News. He presented Eggheads for 11 years starting in 2003 and was a key presenter for Sky News from 2007 until 2023. Beyond news, Murnaghan also hosted documentaries such as Crimes That Shook Britain for Channel 5 and Killer Britain for the Crime + Investigation UK channel, and later launched his podcast, Legends of News, featuring interviews with seasoned journalists.
Tributes have been shared widely following the news of his passing. Sky News political editor Beth Rigby posted on X, describing him as “peerless in the presenter chair.” She added, “I loved being on set, or in Downing Street, with Dermot because he was always in absolute command but so cool too. He made handling the most high-pressure moments look effortless.” Fellow Sky News presenter Anna Botting hailed him as a “legend of news.”
Former Prime Minister David Cameron, who has also undergone treatment for prostate cancer, praised Murnaghan’s decision to highlight the importance of testing, believing it would have significantly helped many men. Lord Cameron told Sky News, “I think it’s really important that Dermot came out in the way that he did – as in his broadcasting life, he did it with incredible clarity and just simplicity. And as someone who was so well-known to people through his broadcasting career over 40 years, it will have had a huge impact.” Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also paid tribute, calling Murnaghan a “broadcasting legend who we have lost far too soon.”
