John Stapleton, veteran broadcaster, dies at 79 after Parkinson's battle
In his final interview, the TV presenter spoke openly about tremors, speech and balance as his family mourns his passing.
Veteran broadcaster John Stapleton has died in hospital at age 79 after a battle with Parkinson's disease that was complicated by pneumonia, his family said. He passed away peacefully in hospital early Thursday morning, according to his representatives.
Stapleton's career spanned nearly five decades, with roles on Newsnight, Panorama and GMTV's News Hour. In his final TV interview before his death, he spoke publicly about the effects of the disease on daily life on BBC One's Morning Live, describing the challenges he faces and the outlook he maintains.
"I've still got the tremor, which is difficult and makes dressing a bit of a challenge some mornings," Stapleton said, adding that the speech problem can be worsened in noisy environments. "The sound is there, I hope you can hear me, but if I go into a room where there's ambient noise like a pub, I sometimes have to repeat myself. It gets a bit monotonous and a bit frustrating." He also noted that his limbs have grown stiffer, the left side in particular, making balance and grip more challenging as he moves about stairs and at other times.
In a bid to stay positive, he joked: "But apart from that life is a barrel of laughs." He recalled the emotional toll of watching his mother suffer from Parkinson's, describing how she went from a very brilliant outgoing lady to "a prisoner in her own home" due to the disease. "My mother had Parkinson's so I saw first hand what can happen. That is not a prospect I am looking forward to," he said, while adding that many people live relatively normal lives with the condition and that ongoing research offers hope.
Stapleton also spoke about coping strategies, thanking a speech therapist who urged him to slow his delivery and a regular keep-fit coach who pushes him to stay active. "I am doing the best I can. I have a lovely speech therapist who insists I talk more slowly and I have a keep fit lady who comes every week and absolutely knackers me," he said during public appearances about his health.
His death was confirmed by his agent, Jackie Gill, who said Stapleton's Parkinson's disease was complicated by pneumonia. "His son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have been constantly at his side and John died peacefully in hospital this morning," Gill said, noting that Stapleton had years of public service in television and a long personal history with the illness.
Stapleton was married to fellow presenter Lynn Faulds Wood, who died from a stroke in 2020 at the age of 72. The broadcaster's career included long associations with major current-affairs and morning-television programs, contributing to a decades-spanning legacy in British broadcast journalism.
Last year, Stapleton spoke publicly about his battle with Parkinson's in an emotional interview on Morning Live, saying that speaking had defined his career for five decades and that he intended to face the disease with pragmatism and resolve. "Parkinson's is here with me now for the rest of my life. Best I can do is try and control it and take the advice of all the experts. There's no point in being miserable... It won't ever change," he said, underscoring a resolve to maintain dignity and positivity in the face of illness.
As tributes poured in from colleagues and viewers, the passage of Stapleton marks the loss of a veteran broadcaster whose work spanned the evolution of television news and public-facing current affairs across multiple decades.