Veteran broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan has died at the age of 68, his family announced. The news comes a year after Murnaghan revealed he had been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer.
Murnaghan passed away peacefully at his home in north London on Saturday morning. His family released a statement thanking the medical teams who cared for him and acknowledging the outpouring of support he received.
"The family wish to thank the medical teams who cared for Dermot with such sensitivity and extraordinary compassion throughout his illness," the statement read. "Also, for the many, many kind messages of goodwill that he received over the last year since his diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer and his subsequent campaigning to raise awareness for screening programmes for the disease."
His career spanned more than 35 years across Channel 4, ITV, the BBC, and Sky News. Murnaghan was a notable presence in British broadcasting, having presented the popular quiz show "Eggheads" for 11 years between 2003 and 2014. He also reported on some of the most significant events in recent British history. In 1997, he delivered the news of Princess Diana's death to viewers on ITV. More than 25 years later, on September 8, 2022, he announced the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on Sky News.
Murnaghan revealed his cancer diagnosis in June 2025 on social media, sharing that he was receiving excellent care and urging men, particularly those over 50 or in high-risk groups, to get tested for prostate cancer. His public appeal aligned with campaigns for a national prostate cancer screening program.
His first television appearance after his diagnosis was on Sky News in August 2025, where he reiterated his call for improved screening. The presenter departed Sky News in 2023 after more than 15 years with the broadcaster.
Born on Boxing Day in 1957 in Barnstaple, Devon, Murnaghan's early life included an eye operation at age four and a move to Northern Ireland with his family. He recalled the impact of growing up near Belfast during The Troubles. A keen sportsman, he played rugby and pursued higher education, studying history at Sussex University before earning a journalism qualification from City University in London.
Murnaghan began his career as a trainee reporter before joining Channel 4. He later moved to ITV in the early 1990s. During his time at ITV, in 1994, he dived into Lake Geneva to rescue a five-year-old boy from drowning, an act he recounted in the Daily Mail. He transitioned to the BBC in 2002, co-presenting BBC Breakfast with Natasha Kaplinsky, before returning to commercial broadcasting with Sky News in 2007.
Beyond news, Murnaghan also hosted the documentary series "Killer Britain" and the podcast "Legends of News." He was an avid cyclist and runner, completing several marathons. In 2017, he was injured when a driver struck him while he was cycling, an incident he described as a hit-and-run.
In accordance with his wishes, a small family ceremony will be held, followed by a memorial service for friends and colleagues at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street. The family has requested that donations be made to Prostate Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer Research, and North London Hospice in his memory.