TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan dies after being ill with prostate cancer

The former ITV, BBC and Sky News journalist died peacefully at home in London on Saturday, his family say

The former BBC and Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan has died aged 68 after a “period of illness with prostate cancer”, his family have said.

The journalist, who was long a fixture on British TV screens, was also known for hosting the quizshow Eggheads.

Before joining Sky in 2007, Murnaghan was a main presenter on BBC Breakfast and was often the helm of the broadcaster’s six o’clock and 10 o’clock news programmes.

He announced the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, live on ITV News in 1997, and he broke the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sky News in 2022.

Murnaghan revealed in June last year that he had been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. He said at the time: “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.”

In a statement posted on X on Saturday, his family 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. 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.”

His family asked 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”.

Amy Rylance, of Prostate Cancer UK, called Murnaghan “a passionate and dedicated supporter of our charity”, saying his work “had a huge impact on the hundreds of thousands of men affected by prostate cancer across the country”.

Murnaghan’s recent projects included Channel 5’s true crime documentary series Killer Britain and the podcast Legends of News, where he spoke to other well-known journalists. The last episode was released in January.

He made a cameo appearance as a newsreader in the 2004 film Wimbledon, which starred Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst.

Murnaghan said after his diagnosis that he had formed a “rather unwanted bond” that gave him joy with Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic gold medallist who disclosed he had a terminal diagnosis for prostate cancer in October 2024. Hoy contacted Murnaghan after hearing about his diagnosis.

Murnaghan told the Telegraph: “He’s the oracle. He said to me: ‘No matter how bad it gets, you have to think of the treatment as helping you punch [the cancer] back.’”

About one in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to Prostate Cancer UK, and the disease often has no symptoms in its earlier stages.

Murnaghan’s funeral will be a small, family ceremony. A memorial service for friends and colleagues will take place at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, known for its association with journalists, later this year.