Dermot Murnaghan was a ‘legend of news’ who announced the deaths of Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II – and his prostate cancer advocacy will save lives
Dermot Murnaghan, one of the most distinguished news presenters of his generation, died yesterday at the age of 68.
The former BBC, ITV and Sky News correspondent was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer a year ago and has become an outspoken advocate for men to get tested for the condition.
He died surrounded by his family at his home in north London.
In 1997 he was working for ITN when he received a call in the middle of the night from editors demanding he go into the studio to break the news of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Murnaghan, who works for Sky News 25 years later, is a part of World War II. He announced that Elizabeth had died.
He was remembered by colleagues yesterday as a ‘news legend’ whose calm authority made him ‘unmatched in the presenting chair’.
Jonathan Munro, interim chief executive of BBC News, said: ‘Dermot was a true gentleman and a brilliant journalist and broadcaster who was much loved by audiences and his BBC colleagues. He was a consummate professional and someone who had a truly natural ability to connect with audiences.’
Publicist Piers Morgan said it was ‘very sad news’, adding: ‘Dermot was a wonderful journalist and a lovely man.’
Dermot Murnaghan broke the news to ITV viewers in 1997 that Princess Diana had died as a result of a car accident in Paris.
He was part of the team presenting the BBC’s coverage of the 2001 general election, alongside colleagues Jonathan Dimbleby (centre) and John Sergeant.
Murnaghan appeared on Sky News in August last year to make his first television appearance since his diagnosis.
Channel 4 News chief presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy said: ‘What a sad loss at such a young age. Dermot was a very good journalist and presenter whose career spanned all the major British broadcasters.’
Referring to Murnaghan’s tireless work for charity, he added: ‘He was also very kind.’
Former prime minister David Cameron, who is himself being treated for prostate cancer, said the presenter’s decision to highlight the importance of testing would help many men.
‘I think it’s really important for Dermot to come out in this way; “He did this in his publishing life with incredible clarity and simplicity,” he said.
‘And as someone who is so well known to people through his 40-plus year broadcasting career, this will have a huge impact.’
The Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday are among those campaigning for an end to unnecessary prostate cancer deaths and a national screening program initially targeted at high-risk men, such as those who are black, have a family history of the disease or have specific genetic mutations.
Every year, 12,000 men die from prostate cancer, and one in eight men develop this cancer. However, if caught early with a routine PSA test, it can be completely treated.
In an interview last year, Murnaghan explained how her cancer could have been prevented if it had been detected with such a test.
Murnaghan spoke about his stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis on the BBC in November last year.
He previously fronted the BBC Breakfast show with Natasha Kaplinsky.
Murnaghan had four children with his wife, Maria. Picture: Couple at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2012
He said: ‘My immediate thought, which is still in my mind, is: ‘What a fool I am’. Throughout my career, I’ve sat on couches and talked to people about their health stories. I was very aware of prostate cancer and the importance of PSA testing.
‘I just thought, ‘Oh, I’ll get back to this.’ And that moment when I got the test in the hospital was so scary. Of course the levels were off scale.’
When he announced his diagnosis last summer, he said he was ‘responding positively’ to treatment and ‘feeling good’.
“Needless to say, my message to all men over 50 who are in high-risk groups or are showing symptoms is to get yourself tested and campaign for routine prostate screening on the NHS,” he added.
Murnaghan was proud to have four children with his wife of 37 years, Maria.
He leaves Sky in 2023 after more than 15 years, having previously presented ITV’s News At Ten and BBC Ten O’Clock News, as well as Channel 4 News and BBC Breakfast.
He also hosted the BBC’s quiz show Eggheads.
John Ryley, former chairman of Sky News, said one of Murnaghan’s greatest strengths was his “ability to stay calm and collected under intense pressure”, adding that he was a “great friend”.
‘He didn’t say much, but when he did chat, what he said was golden, it was insightful and clear and it was about money,’ he said.
‘And what I really liked about him – which is why he was a good journalist – was that he didn’t like authority and wasn’t afraid to show it.’
