Stapleton, who was well known for presenting BBC programmes including Panorama, Newsnight, Nationwide and Watchdog, as well as his long career on ITV breakfast television, passed away peacefully in hospital on Sunday morning.
His agent, Jackie Gill, confirmed: “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.”
Born in Oldham in 1946, John Stapleton began his career in newspapers before moving into television journalism. At the BBC, he reported from global trouble spots including the Middle East, El Salvador and Argentina during the Falklands War in the early 1980s.
He went on to present Panorama and Newsnight, before joining Watchdog in 1986 alongside his wife, the late Lynn Faulds Wood, with whom he fronted the consumer programme until 1993.
Stapleton also became a familiar face on ITV’s GMTV and later Good Morning Britain (GMB), where his versatility and ability to handle breaking news made him a trusted figure for viewers.
Tributes have poured in following news of his death. GMB presenter Charlotte Hawkins wrote on X: “So sad to hear John Stapleton – our ‘Stapes’ – has died. He was such a brilliant broadcaster and I loved working with him on GMB. A genuinely lovely man… He’ll be much missed.”
Former LBC host Sangita Myska described him as “the epitome of collegiate behaviour” and a “great journalist, role model and gentleman”. She recalled receiving a message of encouragement from him during her career and praised his kindness and wisdom.
Erron Gordon, co-creator of GMB, highlighted Stapleton’s professionalism and warmth: “His versatility was unmatched, and he had an innate ability to navigate any challenge from breaking news to technical hiccups. Each Christmas, he and Penny Smith would bring the crew presents, showing just how much he cared about the team.”
Stapleton publicly revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2023 during a conversation with his son Nick on BBC One’s *Morning Live*. He reflected on the challenges of the illness, saying: “Speaking is how I’ve earned my living for the best part of 50 years. It’s very frustrating sometimes… I try to remain positive, because what’s the point of not being?”
His passing comes four years after the death of his wife, broadcaster Lynn Faulds Wood, who died in 2020 following a stroke.
John Stapleton will be remembered as one of Britain’s most respected and versatile broadcasters, whose career spanned more than five decades across both BBC and ITV.
