Veteran broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan has died at the age of 68, after a period of illness with stage four prostate cancer. He passed away peacefully at his home in North London on Saturday morning, surrounded by his family.
Murnaghan had been vocal in raising awareness about prostate cancer, revealing his own diagnosis in 2024. He became a respected advocate for greater awareness of the disease, and his work in this area will be remembered as a significant contribution to the community.
The veteran broadcaster enjoyed a broadcasting career spanning five decades, making him 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.
Murnaghan's career also included presenting flagship programmes for ITV, BBC News at Six, BBC News at Ten, Channel 4, and other prominent news outlets. He built a reputation as a calm and authoritative presence during some of the biggest stories of recent decades.
In a statement, his family thanked the medical teams who cared for Murnaghan during his illness, describing their support as being delivered with sensitivity and extraordinary compassion. They also paid tribute to the many messages of support he received over the past year, as well as his work campaigning to raise awareness of prostate cancer screening.
The family has requested that those wishing to remember Murnaghan consider supporting Prostate Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer Research, and North London Hospice. A private family ceremony will be held to celebrate his life, with a memorial service for friends and colleagues to be held later this year at St Bride's Church on Fleet Street.
