BBC journalist and broadcaster Edward Stourton dies aged 68

Stourton was a presenter of the BBC Radio 4 programme Sunday, and was a frequent contributor to the Today programme, where for ten years he was one of the main presenters.

He died on Saturday (July 18) beside his family.

Stourton had been living with prostate cancer, a diagnosis he shared in his 2023 memoir, Confessions.

Tributes as journalist and broadcaster Edward Stourton dies aged 68

Jonathan Munro, interim CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, paid tribute, saying: “It’s far too soon to lose Ed.

“I worked as his producer when he was ITN’s Diplomatic Editor — unflappable then and ever after.

“Many years later I was listening to his superb analysis of the new Pope for the BBC — another of his many areas of expertise.

“Not many broadcasters can present Today, BBC One’s One O’clock News, The World at One and Sunday — but he did.”

Mohit Bakaya, controller of BBC Radio 4, said: “Ed was an absolutely outstanding broadcaster.

“He brought intelligence, authority and an extraordinary hinterland to everything he did.

“When Ed was behind the mic, whether on Sunday or the various news programmes he regularly presented for Radio 4, you felt you understood the world that little bit better.”

Life and career of Edward Stourton

Born in Nigeria in 1957, he was raised in the UK and went on to study English literature at Cambridge University.

Stourton began his journalism career at ITN in 1979 and became a founding member of Channel 4 News in 1982.

He was appointed the programme’s first Washington correspondent in 1986 before joining the BBC as its Paris correspondent in 1988.

He returned to ITN as Diplomatic Editor before moving back to the BBC in 1993 to present the One O’Clock News.

Stourton later became a familiar voice on BBC Radio 4, joining the Today programme in 1999 and remaining for nearly a decade.

He went on to present The World at One and The World This Weekend from 2009 onwards.

As a Roman Catholic, he fronted Radio 4’s religious programme Sunday, as well as The Heaven and Earth Show and the BBC Two documentary series Absolute Truth, which explored the Catholic church.

Stourton also hosted Panorama, Any Questions, and his own Radio 4 phone-in, Call Ed Stourton.

He is survived by his wife, Fiona Stourton, and their four children.

Do you have fond memories of watching or listening to Edward Stourton? Let us know in the comments.