TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan dies aged 68 after cancer diagnosis

TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan has died at the age of 68, one year after he revealed he had been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer.

The veteran broadcaster died peacefully at his home in North London on Saturday morning, surrounded by his family, after a period of illness with stage four prostate cancer.

In a statement shared on his X account, 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 (11th July) at the age of 68 following a period of illness with prostate cancer.

‘He died peacefully with his family at his side.’

They thanked the medical teams who cared for him during his illness, describing their support as being delivered with ‘sensitivity and extraordinary compassion’.

The family also paid tribute to the many messages of support Dermot received over the past year after revealing his diagnosis, as well as his work campaigning to raise awareness of prostate cancer screening.

Murnaghan announced in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with incurable but treatable prostate cancer and became a vocal advocate for greater awareness of the disease.

The respected journalist enjoyed a broadcasting career spanning five decades and became one of the most recognisable faces in British television news.

He was best known for his 15-year stint as a lead presenter on Sky News, where he anchored major breaking news events and political coverage.

Before joining Sky, Murnaghan presented flagship programmes including the ITV Evening News and BBC News at Six and BBC News at Ten.

He also fronted news programmes for Channel 4 and built a reputation as a calm and authoritative presence during some of the biggest stories of recent decades.

In their statement, his family confirmed that his funeral would be a private family ceremony, with a memorial service for friends and colleagues to be held later this year at St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street, known as the journalists’ church.

They asked those wishing to remember him to consider supporting Prostate Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer Research and North London Hospice.

Dermot Murnaghan leaves behind a legacy as one of the most trusted broadcasters of his generation, both on screen and through his work raising awareness of prostate cancer.

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