Broadcaster Jenni Murray died days after north London car crash, inquest hears

Coroner is told BBC veteran was dazzled by headlights before collision and her injuries led to bronchopneumonia

The broadcaster Jenni Murray died days after being involved in a car crash that happened when she was dazzled by headlights, a coroner has heard.

Murray, 75, was best known as the voice of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, hosting the programme for three decades and becoming the longest-serving presenter in its history.

She died on 12 March this year after the collision in north London eight days earlier, the inquest into her death heard on Thursday.

The north London area coroner Tony Murphy ruled Murray’s cause of death was bronchopneumonia caused by fractures to her rib and sternum sustained in the crash.

At the inquest at Barnet coroner’s court, Murphy read a statement from Dr Clare Morkane, a consultant at the Royal Free hospital, where Murray died after being admitted on 4 March.

“Jennifer had been driving when she became dazzled by vehicle lights and collided with two stationary vehicles. Following the collision, Jennifer was unable to recall events, exited the vehicle independently and she was conveyed to hospital,” Morkane said.

The collision took place on Wildwood Road, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, shortly before 8pm, the inquest heard. It caused “multiple rib fractures”, a fracture to her upper sternum and a collapsed lung.

In hospital, Murray was placed on non-invasive ventilation and moved to intensive care but developed bronchopneumonia. Morkane said that after a significant deterioration on 10 March, a decision was made to focus on palliative care. “Jennifer died peacefully on 12 March 2026 at approximately 15.45 hours,” she said.

The Metropolitan police investigated the crash but closed their inquiry.

Murray’s husband, David Forgham-Bailey, attended the hearing via video link.

After Murray’s death, the former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman called her “the broadcasting wing of the women’s movement”.

Murray announced on Woman’s Hour in 2006 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and began raising awareness of the condition as a vice-patron for Breast Cancer Now, a position she held for almost 20 years. She was made a dame in 2011 in recognition of her contribution to broadcasting.

Murray was a noted feminist and a celebrated broadcaster. Her final episode of Woman’s Hour in 2020 ended with Helen Reddy’s feminist anthem I Am Woman . Woman’s Hour won the Television and Radio Industries Club award for best radio programme in 2004, and Murray was honoured with Sony awards in 2010 and 2011.