John Stapleton’s Osmonds tribute to Fiona Phillips recalled as broadcaster dies at 79

John Stapleton, a veteran broadcaster whose decades-long career spanned Newsnight, Panorama and major ITV programs, died on Sunday at age 79 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. His passing draws renewed attention to a widely shared moment from 2008, when Stapleton and fellow GMTV colleagues surprised Fiona Phillips on her final day with a lighthearted serenade, dressed in 1970s-style outfits as The Osmonds and performing Love Me for a Reason.

Phillips hosted GMTV for 15 years and remains a central figure in British daytime television. Her husband, GMTV editor Martin Frizell, shared the clip on Instagram, captioning it as proof of Stapleton’s sense of humor and noting that he was a serious newsman who could still lighten the moment when needed. Phillips was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2022 at the age of 61, a development she has discussed openly in her own public memoir and interviews. The clip shows Stapleton alongside Ben Shephard, Andrew Castle, Penny Smith and Richard Arnold in wigs and 70s-style suits, with Kate Garraway dressed as Marie Osmond, as colleagues marked Phillips’ departure from the show.

Stapleton’s death was confirmed by his agent, Jackie Gill, who said the broadcaster had Parkinson’s disease, which was complicated by pneumonia. He died peacefully in hospital, with his son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa at his side. In Fleming Frizell’s memoir, published earlier this year, he and Fiona described the strains that followed her diagnosis and the years leading up to it. Martin recalled a difficult period beginning around 2015, saying that nothing he could say seemed to help and that the couple grew more distant as they navigated the challenges together. He added that he never suspected the early signs pointed to Alzheimer’s disease, remarking that he initially thought it might be menopause or mood changes rather than a neurological illness.

Stapleton’s long career included stints at Newsnight and Panorama, and his work helped shape a generation of British broadcasters. His agent confirmed that he died after a career that stretched back to his days as a cub reporter on the Yorkshire Post, a start that set the stage for a career defined by a relentless pursuit of truth and a deft hand at television storytelling. His colleagues who remembered him publicly highlighted not only his professionalism but also his warmth and generosity. Kate Garraway shared an old photograph from their GMTV days and wrote that Stapleton was a “rock solid broadcaster and the ultimate gentleman,” praising his generosity and humor. Susanna Reid, posting on X, called him a “broadcasting legend,” a consummate professional who contributed significantly to GMB’s history. “We will not see his like again,” Reid wrote, sending thoughts to his family and loved ones.

In tributes from fellow journalists and viewers alike, Stapleton was remembered for his instinct for a strong story, his decades of coverage across Kosovo, Iraq and other defining news moments, and for the camaraderie he fostered with colleagues. Frizell’s recollections and Phillips’ ongoing public journey have underscored the human side of a career built on newsroom grit and on-screen vitality. The Osmonds tribute to Phillips on her last GMTV day has lingered as a poignant reminder of the culture of British broadcast television in which Stapleton thrived: a workplace where humor could light the darkest hours and where the professional network became a source of comfort for those navigating personal crises.

With Stapleton’s passing, industry colleagues and fans have reflected on a broadcaster who carried the weight of demanding assignments with a steady presence and an easygoing touch that colleagues say helped shape the tone of modern British television. As the culture and entertainment landscape continues to evolve, the memories of Stapleton’s career—and the moments he shared with peers like Phillips, Garraway and Frizell—offer a snapshot of a bygone era when television anchors and producers were both journalists and storytellers, guiding audiences through major events while anchoring a shared sense of national conversation.