SAD NEWS: Britain’s Best-Loved TV Presenter D!es at 68 as Fans Are Left Completely Shocked.
Dermot Murnaghan has died aged 68 (Image: Getty Images)
TV presenter and former Sky News lead anchor Dermot Murnaghan “died peacefully” at his home in north London on Saturday morning “following a period of illness with prostate cancer”, his family said in a statement. A statement posted on X said: “It is with great sadness that the family of Dermot Murnaghan announces that he passed away at home in north London earlier this morning (July 11) at the age of 68 following a period of illness with prostate cancer. He died peacefully with his family at his side.
“The family wish to thank the medical teams who cared for Dermot with such sensitivity and extraordinary compassion throughout his illness. Also, for the many, many kind messages of goodwill that he received over the last year since his diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer and his subsequent campaigning to raise awareness for screening programmes for the disease. In accordance with his wishes, the funeral will be a small family ceremony.
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Dermot Murnaghan was a lead anchor for Sky News for 15 years until 2023 (Image: Getty Images for Sky News)
“A memorial service for friends and colleagues will follow at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street (the Journalists’ Church) later this year.
“The family request that anyone wishing to remember him considers supporting Prostate Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer Research and North London Hospice so that others may benefit from the research and care he received.”
Murnaghan announced his “incurable but it’s not untreatable” prostate cancer diagnosis last year and, following this, he became a vocal advocate and campaigner in raising awareness for the disease.
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The media personality was a long-term news presenter, best known for his 15-year tenure as a lead anchor for Sky News.
He also presented the news for Channel 4, as well as flagship programmes such as the ITV Evening News and the BBC News at Six and Ten during his five-decades career as a journalist and broadcaster.
Prostate Cancer UK said Mr Murnaghan “was a passionate and dedicated supporter” of the charity and “had a huge impact on the hundreds of thousands of men affected by prostate cancer across the country”.
Prostate Cancer UK said Dermot Murnaghan ‘was a passionate and dedicated supporter’ of the charity (Image: Getty)
Amy Rylance, the charity’s director of health services, equity and improvement, said: “We’re heartbroken to hear of the passing of Dermot Murnaghan and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
“He was a passionate and dedicated supporter of our charity, and his work had a huge impact on the hundreds of thousands of men affected by prostate cancer across the country.
“Since selflessly sharing his diagnosis, Dermot raised lifesaving awareness, prompting more than 28,000 men to use Prostate Cancer UK’s online risk checker in just one week, 24,000 of whom were at high risk of getting prostate cancer.
“And last year he took part in Sir Chris Hoy’s epic cycling challenge Tour de 4, raising crucial funds for ground-breaking research into the disease and changing the conversation on living with Stage 4 prostate cancer.
“As Dermot worked so hard to tell everyone, one in eight men will get prostate cancer, and your risk of getting it doubles if you’re black.
“If you’re concerned about prostate cancer, take Prostate Cancer UK’s risk checker; or if you are living with or after the disease and looking for support, our specialist nurses are here for you and your family.”
